Apple and Anthropic Partner to Bring 'Vibe Coding' to VS Code

Apple is reportedly working with Anthropic, the Amazon-backed AI startup, to develop a new artificial intelligence-based coding tool integrated into Xcode, its software development platform.

According to Bloomberg News, the tool—described internally as supporting “vibe coding”—will allow AI agents to generate, test, and edit code for developers.

The platform will incorporate Anthropic’s Claude Sonnet model and is currently being tested for internal use.

While Apple has not confirmed plans for a public release, the partnership reflects Apple’s increasing collaboration with AI leaders to strengthen its development tools.

The new initiative follows Apple’s earlier announcement of Swift Assist, an AI-driven Xcode assistant that has yet to launch. Concerns around development speed reportedly delayed its rollout.

As the competition in generative AI intensifies, Apple continues to invest in AI-focused hardware and on-device capabilities, aiming to stay competitive against rivals like OpenAI and Google in the developer and consumer AI space.

Interestingly, Google is aiming to finalise a deal with Apple by mid-year to integrate its Gemini AI into upcoming iPhones, CEO Sundar Pichai said during testimony at an antitrust trial in Washington.

Pichai revealed he discussed the potential partnership with Apple CEO Tim Cook last year, which could see Gemini featured within Apple’s new AI offering, Apple Intelligence.