I originally planned to write about Apple OS 26’s new FoundationModels, but what really stood out in this release were the AI-powered features in Xcode 26. For years, Apple’s attempts at AI coding support were, frankly, lackluster. This update changes the story.
The most exciting addition? A chat/agentic AI window built directly into Xcode. Yes, you read that right: Agentic AI inside Xcode. While VS Code and Cursor have had this type of integration for a while, Apple finally stepping up makes Xcode feel far more usable for modern AI-assisted development.
Model Flexibility Inside Xcode 26
Developers aren’t locked into a single option. You can:
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- Use the built-in ChatGPT integration (with limitations).
- Connect a paid Claude account.
- Point Xcode at a hosted LLM of your choice.
- Even experiment with local models like Qwen 2.5 Coder or Deepseek R1.
That flexibility matters, especially when you inevitably run out of free ChatGPT tokens mid-project.
Limitations and Early Bugs
Of course, the release isn’t perfect:
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- Frequent “network errors” slow down the workflow.
- The UI for accepting or rejecting changes is unintuitive.
- Free ChatGPT tier limits are very low, and I barely finished a Swift idle clicker game proof of concept before tokens ran out.
Local models help mitigate this, though some (like GPT4All) still struggle inside Xcode. Ollama, on the other hand, worked without issues.
What’s Still Missing
One feature I’d love to see is AI-generated commit messages, which is something already present in other AI-enabled IDEs. That said, Apple is clearly moving in the right direction, and this release has me genuinely excited about the future of Xcode.
Final Thoughts
With agentic AI, multi-model support, and real progress toward developer usability, Xcode 26 finally feels like it could become a serious alternative to Cursor or VS Code for AI-driven coding. Bugs aside, this release signals that Apple is no longer ignoring the developer community’s demand for AI-first tooling.
What features in Xcode 26 are you most excited about?
Want to explore how AI tools like Xcode 26, Cursor, and VS Code can accelerate your development process?
Reach out to RBA to see how we help organizations adopt and scale AI-driven engineering practices.
About the Author
Robby Sarvis
Senior Software Engineer
Robby is a full-stack developer at RBA with a deep passion for crafting mobile applications and enhancing user experiences. With a robust skill set that encompasses both front-end and back-end development, Robby is dedicated to leveraging technology to create solutions that exceed client expectations.
Residing in a small town in Texas, Robby enjoys a balanced life that includes his wife, children, and their charming dogs.