According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has quietly developed an advanced artificial intelligence system that rivals OpenAI's ChatGPT in performance. Yet, in a surprising move, the tech giant appears hesitant to release this technology publicly as it prepares for next week's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

Limited AI Models for Developers

At WWDC, Apple will reportedly open access to its foundational AI models for third-party developers. However, these will be significantly scaled-down versions with just 3 billion parameters—capable only of basic functions like text summarization. This cautious approach contrasts sharply with the company's internal capabilities.

Behind closed doors, Apple maintains a suite of much more powerful models ranging from 3 billion to an impressive 150 billion parameters. Internal tests suggest the largest model performs comparably to current versions of ChatGPT, handling complex tasks that dwarf what the public-facing models can achieve.

Strategic Divisions Cause Delays

The decision to withhold advanced technology stems from ongoing leadership debates about Apple's AI direction. Concerns about potential inaccuracies ("hallucinations") in generative AI have prevented the company from launching its own chatbot service—explaining why Apple recently partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT instead.

Several major projects have fallen behind schedule as a result. A next-generation Siri upgrade designed to compete with advanced voice assistants remains indefinitely postponed. Similarly, an ambitious AI health service codenamed "Mulberry" faces technical hurdles, while an internal web chatbot called "Knowledge" remains far from public release.

WWDC Focuses on Incremental Updates

Industry observers expect next week's conference to showcase mostly modest AI enhancements rather than groundbreaking innovations. Planned announcements include:

• An AI-powered battery optimization mode
• Expanded translation features for Siri and AirPods
• Repackaged existing tools in Safari and Photos with "AI" branding

Critics argue these changes represent marketing maneuvers more than technological leaps. When Apple first introduced "Apple Intelligence" last year, features like Genmoji and smart notifications failed to impress developers or users—highlighting the company's struggle to compete in generative AI.

The apparent disconnect between Apple's internal capabilities and public offerings raises questions about its long-term strategy in an increasingly competitive field where rivals like Google and Microsoft continue pushing boundaries.

Key Points

1. Apple developed a 150-billion-parameter AI model matching ChatGPT's capabilities but keeps it internal
2. Developers will receive access to much smaller (3B parameter) models at WWDC
3. Leadership disputes and technical concerns delayed multiple major AI projects
4. Upcoming WWDC announcements focus on incremental updates rather than breakthroughs
5. The company faces growing pressure as competitors advance their AI offerings