Apple is gearing up to launch an upgraded version of its Xcode developer tool, integrated with AI capabilities, as reported by Bloomberg. This update has been in the works for the past year and is expected to be rolled out to third-party developers possibly within 2024.
The new Xcode version aims to streamline the app development process by utilizing AI to predict and autofill code blocks, similar to Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot. This innovative approach is anticipated to save developers time and effort when creating apps for the App Store. Apple is also exploring AI’s potential for automating code generation for application testing, revolutionizing a traditionally laborious process.
In an internal initiative known as “dogfooding,” Apple is encouraging its engineers to test these new AI features before making them available to external developers. Under the leadership of Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Apple is racing against time to incorporate a wide range of new AI features into this year’s operating system updates. Federighi has appointed Sebastien Marineau-Mes as a key figure in this plan, with significant AI functionalities being demonstrated to Apple’s board last year.
The upcoming iOS and iPadOS 18 updates are expected to introduce numerous new AI features, marking them as potentially one of the most significant updates since the iPhone’s inception. Additionally, Apple plans to bring AI enhancements to macOS as well.
While Google has already announced AI features for its Android operating system, integrated into Samsung’s newest Galaxy S24 lineup, there is anticipation around when Apple will introduce AI capabilities to the iPhone. Rumors suggest that Siri will receive a new AI update, potentially making the voice assistant more useful and intuitive.
As technology continues to evolve rapidly, it’s clear that integrating AI into app development tools and operating systems will significantly impact how we interact with our devices. Stay tuned as we await further developments from Apple on this front!
