Apple is reportedly planning to allow users to choose third-party AI models for the first time in its upcoming iOS 27 release, expanding Apple Intelligence capabilities to power core system features such as Siri, writing tools, and image generation, according to Bloomberg.
The shift would mark a significant move by Apple away from its traditionally closed ecosystem toward a more open platform strategy. It could also offer a potential way out of current limitations faced by iPhones in China, where AI functionality has lagged due to regulatory and ecosystem constraints.
Since Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in 2024, iPhones sold in China have faced significant limitations in accessing AI features. Due to regulatory requirements, these devices are unable to use the full suite of native AI capabilities. This includes services like ChatGPT, leaving users reliant on the slower, traditional Siri or requiring them to download separate large-model apps and navigate cumbersome steps to perform AI tasks.
This fragmented experience has weighed on efficiency and left China-market iPhones at a disadvantage in the AI space.
However, the upcoming iOS 27 update could fundamentally change that. The new system is expected to introduce a feature called Extensions, a high-permission, flexible module that would allow users to set third-party AI applications as the default engine on their devices.
This would enable users to directly access domestic AI models such as DeepSeek and Doubao, which offer a more intelligent and locally tailored user experience.
For domestic AI developers, the iOS 27 update presents a major opportunity. In recent years, Chinese AI companies have made notable progress in both technological development and real-world applications.
However, the closed nature of existing ecosystems has limited their reach. A more open iOS 27 could provide a new platform for these models to serve users more broadly, boosting brand visibility and expanding market share.
Apple’s apparent shift also reflects a broader trend in the AI industry. As AI technologies evolve, openness, collaboration and shared benefits are increasingly becoming the norm. By embracing domestic AI models, Apple could strengthen its own competitiveness while better addressing the needs of Chinese users, and this would help reinforce its position in one of its most important markets.
That said, whether iPhones sold in China can truly move beyond their current AI limitations will depend on how iOS 27 performs once it is officially released. Even so, the changes signal renewed hope and rising expectations among users in the Chinese market.
