iOS 26: Discovering the Power of Local AI in Your Favorite Apps

So, Apple rolled out iOS 26, and it's bringing some genuinely useful AI features to our iPhones – all running locally. I'm talking about the Foundation Models framework, which gives developers access to AI models without costing them a fortune in inference fees. That's right, no more hefty bills for using AI in your favorite apps! Plus, these models can generate text and call tools. Pretty neat, huh?

Sure, these models aren't as beefy as those from OpenAI or Google. However, they're making our lives a little bit easier. Imagine your apps getting smarter without needing a constant internet connection. That's the beauty of on-device AI. It's all about those subtle, quality-of-life improvements.

For example, "Lil Artist" is a great app for kids that now uses AI to create stories based on characters and themes you choose. How cool is that? And "Daylish" could soon suggest emojis for your calendar events – a small touch, but potentially a big time-saver.

Then, there's "MoneyCoach", which gives you insights into your spending habits and automatically categorizes your expenses. It’s like having a personal finance assistant right in your pocket! I think that is a great feature that can help people keep track of their expenses.

More Clever AI Integrations

The "LookUp" app is using AI to create examples for words you're learning. The app generates examples to help you understand the usage of the word in a sentence, which is really useful if you are learning a new language. Similarly, "Tasks" can now suggest tags for your to-dos and even detect recurring tasks to schedule them for you. You can even speak your mind, and the app will transform it into a list of tasks.

"Day One", the journaling app, now suggests titles and prompts to help you write more. It's like having a writing buddy who's always there to give you a nudge. "Crouton", the recipe app, is also getting in on the action, suggesting tags for recipes and even breaking down cooking instructions into simple steps.

Also, "SignEasy" summarizes contracts for you, so you don't have to wade through all that legal jargon. If you're into ambient sounds, "Dark Noise" lets you create soundscapes by simply describing what you want to hear. Finally, for the racing fans among us, "Lights Out" summarizes commentary during F1 races. Pretty cool, right?

Other apps like "Capture" (note-taking), "Lumy" (weather), and "Cardpointers" (credit card management) are also using AI to offer suggestions and insights. It's amazing to see how these small, on-device models are making our apps smarter and more helpful. Even guitar learners get AI insights!

I'm really excited to see how developers continue to leverage Apple's Foundation Models in the future. This is just the beginning, and I can only imagine the possibilities! I´ll keep an eye for more news and post them here.