Xcode 26 Shows First Signs of ChatGPT Alternatives

The latest beta version of Xcode reveals Apple's plans to integrate Anthropic's Claude and Opus large language models into the integrated development environment (IDE), expanding on features already available with Apple's own models or OpenAI's ChatGPT.

Apple-focused publication 9to5Mac discovered multiple references to built-in support for Anthropic accounts in the 'Intelligence' menu, where users can currently log into ChatGPT or enter an API key for higher message limits.

At WWDC24, Apple introduced features in Xcode to compete with GitHub Copilot, initially focusing on its own models and limited use cases. This expanded significantly at this year's developer conference, allowing users to converse about codebases, discuss changes, or request suggestions using ChatGPT.

This summer, Apple announced the possibility of using Anthropic's models with an API key, but did not mention support for Anthropic accounts. However, with 9to5Mac's discovery, it appears that Xcode 26 will ultimately allow users to log in to use Anthropic's models.

Claude has become popular among developers due to its wide context window and models fine-tuned for tasks, as Anthropic follows a B2B, developer-oriented strategy compared to OpenAI's broader approach. The release of GPT-5 presents a major challenge for Anthropic, as it significantly improves ChatGPT's coding capabilities while also being more cost-effective. Anthropic is likely to respond with future model updates aimed at greater efficiency.

This news is relevant to the wider Apple ecosystem, not just developers, as it marks the first clear example of Apple working on support for a third-party model besides those offered by OpenAI. Xcode 26 is expected to launch alongside the new macOS version later this year. It's unclear whether Anthropic account support will be available with the initial release or in a subsequent update.