iOS 27 Will Let You Replace ChatGPT With Gemini or Claude Across the Entire iPhone — Expected at WWDC on 8 June
Source Material
System-wide choice
Users will pick Gemini, Claude, or ChatGPT in Settings — routing Siri, Writing Tools, and Image Playground to that model
WWDC 8 June
Expected announcement at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, with consumer release in autumn 2026
Marketplace shift
OpenAI's exclusive ChatGPT integration moves to one option among competitors for the first time
Apple is preparing to introduce an "Extensions" framework in iOS 27 that will allow users to choose which AI model powers Apple Intelligence across the entire iPhone — selecting between Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, OpenAI ChatGPT, or other third-party providers, rather than being limited to Apple's own foundation models.34 The feature is expected to be unveiled at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference on 8 June 2026 and ship with iOS 27 in the autumn.35
The move would represent a significant shift in how Apple controls the AI experience on its devices. Since iOS 18.2 in December 2024, OpenAI's ChatGPT has been the only third-party AI model integrated into Apple Intelligence, accessed via a bespoke partnership arrangement.3 Extensions would open that integration to any qualifying provider, transforming what is currently a privileged bilateral deal into a competitive marketplace of AI models accessible directly from Settings.57
How Extensions will work
Under the reported design, AI providers would add Extensions support to their existing App Store apps.12 A user would then open Settings, navigate to Apple Intelligence preferences, and select their preferred model as the system-wide default. Once set, that choice routes requests from Siri, Writing Tools, and Image Playground to the selected third-party model rather than Apple's own.36 The integration is described as system-wide — meaning the same model choice applies uniformly across Apple's first-party features, not just in an individual app.
The framework would also allow custom voices in Siri depending on which external model is responding, according to reports.3 This suggests a level of integration deeper than simply routing queries — the AI provider would have the ability to shape the personality and presentation of responses within the native Siri interface.27
Which models are being tested
Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude are already being tested internally by Apple engineers, according to reports from early May 2026.31 OpenAI's ChatGPT, the existing partner, would move from a special-case bilateral agreement into one option among many competitors — a significant change in its commercial relationship with Apple.47
The Extensions framework is separate from Apple's January 2026 deal with Google to use a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini model as the underlying engine for the next-generation Siri.3 That deal involves a specific model tailored to Apple's backend infrastructure and is not the same as Gemini appearing as a user-selectable option in Extensions.6
What this means for the AI market
The iPhone has over one billion active users globally. Giving those users a first-class, settings-level choice of AI provider would make Apple's platform one of the most significant distribution channels in the AI industry — comparable in potential impact to Google's default search agreements, which have historically been the subject of major antitrust scrutiny.58
For AI companies, being a first-party Extensions option on iOS would be extraordinarily valuable. Anthropic, Google, and OpenAI are all competing aggressively for consumer mindshare, and appearing natively in Settings — rather than requiring users to download a separate app and switch contexts — would dramatically lower the friction of daily AI use.14 Providers that are not included, or fail to meet Apple's technical and privacy requirements for Extensions, would face a significant disadvantage in reaching iOS users.7
WWDC and the road to release
Apple's WWDC keynote on 8 June 2026 is expected to be one of the most AI-focused in the conference's history, with Extensions likely to be a centrepiece announcement alongside other AI features in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.35 Consumer availability is expected in the autumn alongside the release of new iPhone hardware.
It is not yet confirmed that Extensions will be announced at WWDC — reports are based on internal sources and the feature could be delayed or changed before the keynote.26 However, the breadth and consistency of the reporting from multiple outlets in early May suggests the framework is well advanced in development.13
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