From Apple’s Developer site:
To ensure getting started with a large cloud model is as
accessible as possible, developers in the App Store Small Business
Program with fewer than two million first time App Store downloads
will be able to use Apple Foundation Models running on Private
Cloud Compute (PCC) with no cloud API cost. The model provides
access to frontier level intelligence with unparalleled privacy
protections. This makes it easy for small developers to get
started building intelligent app experiences without upfront
infrastructure costs.Eligibility requirements
Access to PCC is available to developers who meet the following
criteria:
- Are enrolled in the App Store Small Business Program.
- Have fewer than 2 million first-time app downloads from
any of their apps on the App Store.- Have the Private Cloud Compute entitlement assigned to their
account.Where Apple Intelligence is available, eligible developers can use
PCC in their apps distributed on the App Store, and test PCC
features via TestFlight or ad hoc distribution. Installs during
testing are not counted as first-time app downloads.If any app subsequently exceeds the 2 million first-time downloads
threshold, or the developer is no longer enrolled in the App Store
Small Business Program, the developer will be notified and must
migrate to an alternative solution within 6 months. Information
about first-time downloads is available in Analytics in App Store
Connect.
These strict limits don’t seem to be getting as much attention as they should. It’s nice that for small developers who meet the above criteria, access to PCC has no cost. But there’s no way (yet?) to buy your way out of these limits. There are no paid API tiers for larger developers who exceed the above limits, or for developers who qualify now but release a hit app that grows to exceed them. (Users who pay for iCloud+ don’t have any extra quotas for PCC usage in third-party apps either.)
The “fewer than 2 million first-time app downloads from any of their apps” restriction is particularly notable. It’s not 2 million installations for apps that are using PCC, but 2 million downloads for any app the developer has ever released. Developer Gui Rambo writes:
So uhhhh… Apple should really rethink the Private Cloud Compute
developer access limitation. I do happen to have an app that’s had
more than 2 million downloads. That app is ChibiStudio, an app
that’s been in the App Store for over 10 years. It’s not like I’m
getting a million new users every year nowadays. And I’m also not
making any real money with it 🥲
The bottom line is that — for the OS 27 cycle at least — PCC is primarily a feature for Apple itself to use in Siri AI. Granting access to PCC to any third-party developers at all is better than nothing, but this 2-million-download cap cuts off many developers who are in the Small Business Program. Apple should reconsider that. And I know there are a lot of developers who exceed the eligibility for the Small Business Program who would love to have access to the PCC APIs, even if access was paid. The lack of paid tiers says to me that Apple is worried enough about meeting demand from Siri AI users alone.
