Apple has expanded the role of artificial intelligence in Xcode, its app development software used across iPhone, iPad and Mac platforms. The release candidate for Xcode 26.3 was made available to developers on Tuesday, introducing agentic coding as a key addition.
Developers can now deploy AI agents to tackle tasks directly on the platform, expanding automation possibilities. For now, integration covers OpenAI Codex and Anthropic's Claude Agent.
Apple dropped news of cutting-edge agentic functions in Xcode via a newsroom blog. They're bundled in the Xcode 26.3 release, which is now being distributed to developers through Apple's developer portal. A worldwide stable release is expected to hit the Mac App Store in the coming days.
“With seamless access to Claude Agent and Codex, developers can bring the advanced reasoning of these models directly into their app-building workflow. This connection combines the power of these agents with Xcode's native capabilities to provide the best results when developing for Apple platforms, giving developers the flexibility to work with the model that best fits their project,” Apple said.
The company's push to integrate AI into Xcode began at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) last year, when Apple revealed tools that let developers draw on ChatGPT or alternative models for development support. The latest Xcode 26.3 update builds on that foundation by adding compatibility with Anthropic's Model Context Protocol, enabling direct connections with AI agents.
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At present, developers can choose between OpenAI's Codex and Anthropic's Claude Agent. Apple says these tools are designed to work across the full development process, handling tasks such as scanning documentation, navigating file hierarchies, adjusting project configurations and validating work using Xcode Previews. The agents are also capable of refining existing code and resolving bugs automatically.
Apple collaborated closely with the two AI firms to develop the new functionality, according to a report by TechCrunch. The work focused on improving how tokens are used and refining tool-calling processes, changes that are expected to make agent-based coding more efficient while limiting costs for developers.
The report notes that developers will need to activate the agentic coding tools by downloading an AI agent through Xcode's settings menu. This can be done either by signing in with an OpenAI or Anthropic account or by linking the service using API keys. Developers will also be able to select the specific AI model they wish to use, mirroring the options available within Codex and Claude Agent.
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