iOS 27's 'extensions' could be the start of a true AI App Store on iPhone — what we know

Last week, we first heard about "extensions," an iOS 27 feature that would allow Siri to link up with AI chatbots that aren't ChatGPT — such as Gemini or Claude. This would mean you can communicate with those chatbots via Siri voice commands, rather than using a standalone app. But there may be more to extensions than simply looping in more AI choices.

According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, iOS 27's extensions feature could come with its own dedicated section of the App Store. As Gurman explains it, this would effectively be an AI App Store for Apple devices, and a dedicated marketplace for all sorts of new AI features.

Gurman points out that this third-party support wouldn't replace the ongoing efforts to upgrade Siri, which is expected to be powered by Gemini. Gurman notes that Apple's home-made AI software is still necessary for new products and marketing, with Siri's ongoing delays affecting the launch of other devices — including the Apple HomePad and smart glasses.

Instead, AI extensions would be complementing Apple's in-house AI development with third-party software. That could help expand Apple Intelligence's offerings far faster than Apple can manage alone. Extra AI features would help sell more iPhones, which are the primary source of Apple's revenue, and avoid enthusiasts leaving for Android.

An actual App Store would also generate more revenue for Apple, thanks to the 30% commission it receives on all sales and in-app transactions.

As Gurman puts it, Apple has effectively conceded in the AI race and doesn't have much of a choice but to employ strategies that have already worked in the past. So rather than directly competing with the likes of OpenAI and Google, it's trying to leverage its platform and loyal user base to remain profitable.

Hopefully, this will mean far fewer delays in the rollout of AI on iPhone and other Apple devices, as well as a lot more choice for users on what platform and features they actually install onto their devices.

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