Apple's answer to GitHub Copilot is coming to Xcode

While the rest of Silicon Valley has been screaming about generative AI for over a year, Apple has mostly stayed in the shadows. But Cupertino is finally getting ready to put its cards on the table.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple has significantly expanded internal testing of generative AI features for Xcode, its flagship app development software. The company reportedly plans to release these AI-powered developer tools to third-party coders as soon as this year, and executives already gave a live demonstration to Apple’s board late last year.

Taking on GitHub Copilot

Basically, Apple is building its own version of GitHub Copilot and Amazon CodeWhisperer directly into Xcode. The tool utilizes a proprietary large language model to predict, complete, and suggest lines of code in real time, and it can even write test suites for applications automatically.

Apple is chasing a massive market here. Back in November 2023, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella told analysts that GitHub Copilot had already surpassed 1 million paying subscribers. With Microsoft planning to unveil new AI coding capabilities at its Build conference in May, Apple will likely use its annual WWDC later this year to convince developers they do not need to look outside the Apple ecosystem.

Spotlight gets a ChatGPT upgrade

Coding tools are not the only thing on the docket. Apple is also testing consumer-facing generative AI across iOS and macOS.

The most intriguing project is a major overhaul of Spotlight search. Instead of just pulling up files and web links, an upgraded Spotlight could accept natural language prompts like ChatGPT, fetch nuanced queries like weather forecasts, and trigger complex features deep inside installed apps.

Other features reportedly in the lab include automatic playlist creation for Apple Music and automated slide deck generation for Keynote. While Apple CEO Tim Cook has historically been guarded on the subject, he confirmed during an investor call this month that generative AI features will roll out this year. That aligns with quiet moves Apple has made recently, like releasing the MLX machine learning framework for Apple silicon, the MGIE image-editing model, and the Keyframer animation tool.

Why it matters

We think launching generative AI inside Xcode first is the smartest move Apple could make right now.

Apple’s real moat has always been its developer community. If Xcode feels archaic compared to AI-augmented editors like VS Code, developers drift away. Giving engineers native code completion and automated testing for Swift keeps them glued to Apple's native pipeline while speeding up the delivery of iOS apps.

On the consumer front, the Spotlight revamp might be the biggest signal yet of where Siri is headed. If Spotlight can parse everyday language to operate features deep inside third-party apps, it transforms from a simple file search into an operating-system-level agent.

Apple has a lot of ground to make up against Microsoft and Google. But by integrating generative AI directly into its hardware and developer toolchain rather than shipping a standalone chatbot, Apple is playing the long game it usually wins.