What Apple’s On-Device AI Means for the Future of Mobile Apps

The way we build iOS apps is changing, and it’s changing fast. With the release of iOS 26, Apple has doubled down on on-device AI by introducing Foundational Models, CoreML, and CreateML as first-class citizens in the developer toolkit. For brands, that shift means new opportunities to deliver smarter, more responsive app experiences without relying on a heavy backend.

For years, AI in mobile apps was mostly handled on the server side. Apple’s move signals a future where personalization, recommendations, and even generative experiences can be powered natively, securely, and instantly on users’ devices. This is more than a performance boost — it’s a paradigm shift.

Apple’s AI capabilities now fall into three major categories:

• Foundational Models: Lightweight, OS-level APIs that can understand context and generate insights.
• CoreML: A framework for running machine learning models on-device with optimised performance.
• CreateML: A tool for training custom ML models using user data or mock data directly on a Mac.

Together, these tools empower developers to move beyond static app flows into dynamic, adaptive, and personalized experiences.

At Heady, we’ve been actively experimenting with these frameworks to understand how they can bring value to our partners and their users.

A few early explorations have included:

• A Foundational Models proof of concept that recommended design elements based on a customer’s style preferences.
• A CoreML experiment predicting how much sleep a person needs, based on lifestyle inputs.

These were small steps, but they helped us validate Apple’s vision: that on-device intelligence is the future of mobile apps.

Our team recently created a proof of concept using CoreML’s recommender engine.

The problem we focused on is one that nearly every ecommerce app faces: “When a user likes or engages with one product, how can we instantly recommend similar products they might love?”

Using CoreML, we trained a lightweight model to understand product relationships. The app now generates on-device recommendations whenever a user interacts with an item.

Here's why this matters:

• Speed: No network calls required; recommendations appear instantly.
• Privacy: All data stays on-device, aligned with Apple’s privacy-first approach.
• Business impact: Smarter recommendations mean higher engagement and better conversions, critical for retail and lifestyle apps.

Here's a look at the recommendation function in action:

Working on this POC surfaced a few important takeaways:

Pros
• CoreML makes personalization accessible. You don’t need a massive server pipeline to deliver value.
• CreateML + CoreML is a powerful combo: Training and deploying models is smoother than expected.

Cons
• The tech is still very young and evolving, which means it may change significantly as it matures.
• There's a learning and adapting curve. Teams will need time to fully leverage these tools.

This is just the beginning. With Apple’s Foundational Models Framework, we’ll soon be able to integrate even richer generative AI features — everything from conversational interfaces to real-time content creation — without leaving the iOS ecosystem.

For brands, this opens the door to:

• Personalized product feeds
• Smarter in-app recommendations
• Seamless, privacy-first customer experiences

And for us as developers, it’s a chance to reimagine what mobile apps can be.

Why It Matters

Apple’s move toward on-device AI is a strategic shift that brands cannot ignore. Early adopters will gain an advantage by shaping how AI-powered mobile experiences look in retail, lifestyle, and beyond.

Now is the time to start exploring these tools — not just to follow Apple’s lead, but to redefine how your app connects with users in the years ahead.

Level Up Your App With On-Device AI

As a full-service digital product agency, Heady can help you turn emerging tech into measurable impact. Get in touch to explore how we can collaborate, or explore our work with leading retail and lifestyle brands.