Apple will provide foundation models to small developers with fewer than 2 million cumulative App Store downloads without charging cloud API fees, TechCrunch reported on June 8.
The report said the benefit applies to foundation models running on Private Cloud Compute.
Apple explained the move by saying, "Exploring ideas should not be blocked by infrastructure costs."
The 2 million threshold is similar to its Small Business Program, which offers lower commissions to small developers.
Apple will expand its foundation model framework this year to include image input and support for server models. Developers will be able to connect the model of any cloud model provider they want via an API if they need more complex tasks.
Apple's move comes as the cost burden of AI experimentation grows. Meta and Amazon scrapped internal leaderboards in which employees competed against each other on usage of AI tools. Uber (Uber) used up its 2026 AI budget in 4 months.
Chi-gyu Hwang (황치규)
delight@d-today.co.kr