Apple is nearing the final stages of building an AI tool aimed at helping programmers craft code more efficiently. Industry insiders quote knowledgeable sources who describe the tool as a coding assistant built to streamline the developer workflow.
Plans are said to be for the tool to be released as part of an update to the Xcode development environment in 2024. The feature is described as being similar in concept to GitHub Copilot, Microsoft’s AI-powered service that assists with code writing. At this evolving stage, Apple is inviting engineers to test the service and is reportedly exploring the possibility of applying artificial intelligence to test applications as well.
According to various reports, Apple may unveil these plans at its annual developer conference in 2024. Representatives from Apple have not provided formal comments on the information.
Microsoft and OpenAI released an AI service called GitHub Copilot in mid-2021, designed to help developers write code more efficiently. In 2022, GitHub expanded access to the service through a $10 monthly subscription. Earlier, in 2023, Google announced that its chatbot Bard, also known as Gemini, received additional training to write, explain, and fix code.
WWDC 2024 is anticipated to take place in June. The conference is expected to showcase updated operating system versions across Apple devices and may feature enhancements to the on-device intelligence powering Siri, Apple’s voice assistant. The event is also likely to highlight improvements in AI-driven capabilities that support developers, designers, and everyday users in North America, including Canada and the United States.
Previously, Apple introduced a neural network designed for creating animations, signaling the company’s ongoing interest in applying AI to media and interactive experiences.