Can Apple catch up? Apple Intelligence just shipped, yet free “Apple Writing Tools” on GitHub for Windows and Linux make a better alternative

Can Apple catch up? Apple Intelligence just shipped,  yet free "Apple Writing Tools" on GitHub for Windows and Linux make a better alternative

What you need to know

  • Apple recently shipped its long-awaited Apple Intelligence features across its tech stack, including Writing Tools, Genmoji, and an overhauled Siri AI assistant.
  • Interestingly, a developer built a version of Apple Intelligence’s Writing Tools touted as “a better, free, and open-source version” for Windows and Linux.
  • Apple insiders recently raised concerns about the iPhone maker being two years behind its competitors in the AI race, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT.

As a seasoned researcher with decades of experience in the tech industry, I’ve witnessed the rise and fall of numerous companies, and Apple’s latest move into AI is no exception. While Apple has always been known for its privacy-focused ecosystem and innovative products, it seems to be playing catch-up in the AI race compared to its competitors like Microsoft and Google.


Apple boasts itself as a company emphasizing privacy and security, growing a wide user base within its system. In contrast, rivals like Microsoft and Google hold an advantage over Apple in the realm of artificial intelligence due to their early investments and adoption of the technology.

Though Apple may seem like a newcomer in the field of artificial intelligence, it appears that they’ve responded to increasing competition from companies that have already achieved great heights and boast a market capitalization exceeding $3 trillion.

At the WWDC 2024 conference held in June, Apple introduced a new technology called Apple Intelligence. This move could help Apple close the gap with industry leaders like Microsoft, Google, and others in the sector. In fact, this announcement catapulted Apple to the top position as the world’s most valuable company, surpassing both Microsoft and NVIDIA.

As an analyst, I’ve observed that over time, Apple has been strategic about diving headfirst into new endeavors, preferring a measured approach that ultimately allows it to excel in every sphere it touches. This seems to be the path they’re treading with their AI strategy, which, after being announced, appeared to take an eternity to materialize. However, it’s encouraging to see that Apple has now released its initial wave of AI-driven features for widespread use. These include advanced writing tools, Genmoji, and a significantly upgraded Siri.

As a tech enthusiast, I’m excited to share that more advanced AI functionalities, such as ChatGPT and Visual Intelligence, are expected to arrive in Apple’s ecosystem with the iOS 18.2 update coming this December. However, it’s intriguing to note that some Apple insiders have voiced concerns about Apple’s AI strategy, hinting at potential delays, with Apple Intelligence possibly trailing OpenAI’s ChatGPT by two years.

Individuals within Apple think their advanced AI technology, as it stands now, is currently about two years behind the leading tech companies in the field of generative AI.

According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, ChatGPT proves to be more precise than Siri and manages to answer approximately 30% more questions. Gurman also points out that it’s challenging to underestimate Apple’s abilities in this scenario.

Even avid Windows users can get a taste of Apple Intelligence completely free

I made a better version of the Apple Intelligence Writing Tools for Windows! It’s open source and completely free 😀 from r/windows

According to Apple, their Writing Tools are included in the suite of Apple Intelligence features. These tools enable users to revise, check grammar, and condense text within Apple’s system, such as Mail, Messages, Notes, Pages, and even compatible third-party applications.

Though there are numerous writing tools available, some paid and some free, you now have the opportunity to utilize Apple Intelligence’s latest Writing Tools on Windows systems. As per the developer (theJayTea on Github), these Writing Tools resemble Apple’s Intelligent features and even better, they can be accessed at no cost by both Windows and Linux users.

The developer indicates:

  • Versatile AI LLM Support: Jump in quickly with support for the free Gemini API, or use an extensive range of local LLMs (via Ollama [instructions below], llama.cpp, KoboldCPP, TabbyAPI, vLLM, etc.) or cloud-based LLMs (ChatGPT, Mistral AI, etc.) with Writing Tools’ OpenAI-API-Compatibility.
  • System-wide Functionality: Works instantly in any application where you can select text. Does not overwrite your clipboard.
  • Completely free and Open-source: No subscriptions, no hidden costs. Bloat-free & uses pretty much 0% of your CPU.
  • Chat Mode: Invoke Writing Tools with no text selected to enter a chat mode for quick queries and assistance.
  • Privacy-focused: Your API key and config files stay on your device. NO logging, diagnostic collection, tracking, or ads. Invoked only on your command. Local LLMs keep your data on your device & work without the internet.
  • Supports Many Languages: Works for any language! It can even translate text across languages better than Google Translate (type “translate to [language]” in “Describe your change…”).
  • Code Support: Select code and ask Writing Tools to work on it (fix, improve, convert languages) through “Describe your change…”.
  • Themes, Dark Mode, & Customization: Choose between 2 themes: a blurry gradient theme and a plain theme that resembles the Windows + V pop-up! Also has full dark mode support. Set your own hotkey for quick access.

It’s worth noting that free, open-source writing tools aim to replicate Apple’s commitment to privacy and security throughout their services. However, users may encounter problems when using these tools. For instance, they might find incompatibility with Microsoft Word, slow loading times, or difficulties with default hotkeys on certain devices due to malfunctioning writing tools.

Just as similar AI services offered by competitors such as ChatGPT and Copilot, Apple might reportedly begin charging between $10 and $20 for their new AI offerings. Although the Writing Tools are only a small part of the larger Apple Intelligence platform, it’s convenient that Windows users can sample some of Apple’s AI capabilities without incurring significant costs related to new hardware or subscription fees.

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2024-10-29 18:39