New Economist Warning: Apple Must Open Up to Stay Relevant in the AI Age

Apple may be winning in hardware—but it’s falling behind in artificial intelligence. In a bold editorial published June 12, 2025, The Economist argues that Apple’s obsession with secrecy, vertical integration, and tightly closed systems is hurting its ability to compete with the likes of Google, OpenAI, and Meta in the generative AI race. The magazine’s message is clear: to thrive in the AI era, Apple must become more open.

The Case Against Apple’s AI Strategy

Unlike its rivals, Apple hasn’t launched a groundbreaking chatbot, released a foundation model, or published leading AI research. Key issues flagged:

• No Open Models: Meta shares its LLaMA models. Google open-sources Gemini variants. Apple offers nothing similar.
• Secrecy Over Sharing: Apple’s reluctance to release benchmarks, datasets, or even research papers has alienated AI talent and left it out of key collaborations.
• Siri Still Lags: Despite recent updates, Siri remains less capable and less conversational than ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude.

Why This Matters Now

Generative AI is shifting power from hardware-driven ecosystems to model-centric platforms. Whoever builds the best AI assistants, copilots, and search replacements could dominate not just apps—but operating systems and daily workflows.

If Apple continues walling off its AI, it risks:

• Losing Developer Mindshare: Open ecosystems attract more innovation.
• Falling Behind in Productivity AI: Google Workspace, Microsoft 365 Copilot, and Meta AI are already reshaping knowledge work.
• Missing the Multimodal Future: AI that understands text, images, video, and voice will be key—and open collaboration fuels faster breakthroughs.

What the Editorial Didn’t Fully Explore

1. Apple’s Strength in Private, On-Device AI

Apple is betting on AI models that run on-device—prioritizing speed, efficiency, and privacy. Its chips (like the M4 and A18) are optimized for these tasks, enabling offline photo editing, language translation, and smart summarization without sending data to the cloud.

2. AI Acquisitions Behind the Curtain

Apple has bought dozens of AI startups quietly—from voice synthesis firms to health-focused prediction engines. While it doesn’t brag about them publicly, it’s building infrastructure for future releases—possibly at WWDC or via iOS 18 updates.

3. Privacy as a Differentiator

Apple sees privacy as a long-term competitive edge. While OpenAI and Meta build powerful cloud tools, Apple aims to deliver just-as-smart features—without harvesting user data.

What Needs to Change

The Economist suggests that for Apple to lead—not just follow—in AI, it must:

• Open Source More Tools: Release models, papers, or APIs that let researchers and developers contribute to Apple’s AI stack.
• Join the Conversation: Publish research, speak at AI conferences, and build a public-facing AI brand.
• Support Developer Innovation: Provide low-friction access to AI hardware and SDKs, especially if Siri and iOS apps are to evolve.

What’s Coming Next

Rumors suggest iOS 18 will integrate a powerful, on-device AI assistant—possibly built with help from OpenAI or another partner. Apple is expected to unveil new generative features for messaging, email, and Safari at its 2025 WWDC, potentially shifting the narrative.

3 FAQs

1. Why won’t Apple release open-source AI like Meta or Google?
Apple’s culture prioritizes secrecy and privacy. Open-sourcing would expose methods and datasets—risking leaks or misuse. But critics argue that openness fosters innovation and trust in AI systems.

2. Is Apple really behind in AI?
In public-facing tools and research, yes. But behind the scenes, Apple is building optimized chips and quietly acquiring AI startups. It may be taking a slower, more private route—but risks missing the ecosystem effects that come with openness.

3. What happens if Apple stays closed?
Developers may shift focus to Android or desktop AI tools. Consumers might find better assistants outside the Apple ecosystem. And regulators could pressure Apple to allow third-party AI services by default—undermining its control over devices.

Sources The Economist