Apple prepares native Claude integration in Xcode 26

Xcode 26 beta 7 shows signs of native integration for Anthropic’s Claude alongside ChatGPT

Apple is set to expand its AI coding capabilities in Xcode with native integration for Anthropic’s Claude, alongside its existing support for ChatGPT. The move was hinted at in Xcode 26 beta 7, where multiple references were discovered for built-in support for Anthropic accounts and specific versions of Claude, including Claude Sonnet 4.0 and Claude Opus 4 released on May 14.

According to 9to5Mac, This development suggests that while ChatGPT remains the only model with first-party Xcode integration, Claude could soon receive the same level of native support. Until now, developers could connect to Claude via API, but Apple appears to be preparing a seamless experience similar to what ChatGPT received during WWDC 2025.

Swift Assist, originally announced at WWDC 2024, was Apple’s planned answer to AI coding tools like GitHub Copilot. The feature aimed to provide a built-in AI coding assistant to help developers explore frameworks and write code. Although Swift Assist did not ship under its original name, the technology is arriving in Xcode 26 with a broader scope. It will support Apple’s own models, native ChatGPT integration with a daily usage cap unless logged in or an API key is provided, and the ability to add any third-party or local models running on the developer’s Mac.

The new Xcode beta indicates that Claude will gain the same native support as ChatGPT. This is likely to appeal to developers who prefer Claude, which has been praised as a highly capable coding assistant. Apple and Anthropic have reportedly been in discussions for some time, with internal testing of a Claude-powered Xcode version reported by Bloomberg in May. At that point, only ChatGPT was part of the expanded Swift Assist plans, leaving Claude integration as a potential future update.

Developers who prefer Claude will still be able to plug in their API keys, but native integration would simplify the workflow, making the AI assistant feel like a built-in feature of Xcode rather than a third-party addition. Server-side configuration files suggest that Claude could eventually join ChatGPT as an alternative to Siri or the system’s Writing Tools, although there is no confirmation that Apple will launch these features together.

Xcode 26’s AI enhancements mark a significant step for Apple, offering developers a flexible platform that supports multiple AI coding assistants. By including both ChatGPT and Claude, Apple is catering to diverse preferences within the developer community, while expanding the role of AI in coding and software development on macOS