I've spent way too long today trying to convert an Object Detection TensorFlow2 model to a CoreML object classifier (with bounding boxes, labels and probability score) The 'SSD MobileNet v2 320x320' is here: https://github.com/tensorflow/models/blob/master/research/object_detection/g3doc/tf2_detection_zoo.md And I've been following all sorts of posts and ChatGPT https://apple.github.io/coremltools/docs-guides/source/tensorflow-2.html#convert-a-tensorflow-concrete-function https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10153/?time=402 To convert it. I keep hitting the same errors though, mostly around: NotImplementedError: Expected model format: [SavedModel | concrete_function | tf.keras.Model | .h5 | GraphDef], got <ConcreteFunction signature_wrapper(input_tensor) at 0x366B87790> I've had varying success including missing output labels/predictions. But I simply want to create the CoreML model with all the right inputs and outputs (including correct names) as detailed in the docs here: https://github.com/tensorflow/models/blob/master/research/object_detection/g3doc/running_on_mobile_tf2.md It goes without saying I don't have much (any) experience with this stuff including Python so the whole thing's been a bit of a headache. If anyone is able to help that would be great. FWIW I'm not attached to any one specific model, but what I do need at minimum is a CoreML model that can detect objects (has to at least include lights and lamps) within a live video image, detecting where in the image the object is. The simplest script I have looks like this: import coremltools as ct import tensorflow as tf model = tf.saved_model.load("~/tf_models/ssd_mobilenet_v2_320x320_coco17_tpu-8/saved_model") concrete_func = model.signatures[tf.saved_model.DEFAULT_SERVING_SIGNATURE_DEF_KEY] mlmodel = ct.convert( concrete_func, source="tensorflow", inputs=[ct.TensorType(shape=(1, 320, 320, 3))] ) mlmodel.save("YourModel.mlpackage", save_format="mlpackage")

Hello, I am developing an iOS app that uses machine learning models. To improve accuracy and user experience, I would like to download .mlmodel files (compiled and compressed as zip files) from our own server after the app is installed, and use them for inference within the app. No executable code, scripts, or dynamic libraries will be downloaded—only model data files are used. According to App Store Review Guideline 2.5.2, I understand that apps may not download or execute code which introduces or changes features or functionality. In this case, are compiled and zip-compressed .mlmodel files considered "data" rather than "code", and is it allowed to download and use them in the app? If there are any restrictions or best practices related to this, please let me know. Thank you.

Hello, I am planning to develop an iOS app that performs on-device inference using machine learning (ML) models. To improve accuracy and user experience, after the app is installed, I would like to download and update .mlmodel files from a separate cloud server and use them for inference within the app. The .mlmodel files will be provided by the cloud server in a compiled format, compressed as zip files. The app will download the zip file, extract it, and use the model. No executable code, scripts, or dynamic libraries will be downloaded—only model data files will be used. All code is fully contained within the app bundle, and the downloaded model files are strictly used as data and are never executed as code. I have previously consulted with DTS (Developer Technical Support), who confirmed that, to their knowledge, this approach does not violate the guidelines and that there are existing apps that rely on this functionality. However, for official assurance and to avoid any potential issues during app review, I would like to request confirmation from the App Review team. Specifically: Is it permitted under App Store guidelines to download or update compiled .mlmodel machine learning model files (compressed as zip files) from a remote cloud server after app installation, as long as no executable code is downloaded or executed? Thank you.

Problem: We trained a LoRA adapter for Apple's FoundationModels framework using their TAMM (Training Adapter for Model Modification) toolkit v0.2.0 on macOS 26 beta 4. The adapter trains successfully but fails to load with: "Adapter is not compatible with the current system base model." TAMM 2.0 contains export/constants.py with: BASE_SIGNATURE = "9799725ff8e851184037110b422d891ad3b92ec1" Findings: Adapter Export Process: In export_fmadapter.py def write_metadata(...): self_dict[MetadataKeys.BASE_SIGNATURE] = BASE_SIGNATURE # Hardcoded value The Compatibility Check: - When loading an adapter, Apple's system compares the adapter's baseModelSignature with the current system model - If they don't match: compatibleAdapterNotFound error - The error doesn't reveal the expected signature Questions: - How is BASE_SIGNATURE derived from the base model? - Is it SHA-1 of base-model.pt or some other computation? - Can we compute the correct signature for beta 4? - Or do we need Apple to release TAMM v0.3.0 with updated signature?

Is it possible to expose a custom VirtIO device to a Linux guest running inside a VM — likely using QEMU backed by Hypervisor.framework. The guest would see this device as something like /dev/npu0, and it would use a kernel driver + userspace library to submit inference requests. On the macOS host, these requests would be executed using CoreML, MPSGraph, or BNNS. The results would be passed back to the guest via IPC. Does the macOS allow this kind of "fake" NPU / GPU

I've created a "Transfer Learning BERT Embeddings" model with the default "Latin" language family and "Automatic" Language setting. This model performs exceptionally well against the test data set and functions as expected when I preview it in Create ML. However, when I add it to the Xcode project of the application to which I am deploying it, I am getting runtime errors that suggest it can't find the embedding resources: Failed to locate assets for 'mul_Latn' - '5C45D94E-BAB4-4927-94B6-8B5745C46289' embedding model Note, I am adding the model to the app project the same way that I added an earlier "Maximum Entropy" model. That model had no runtime issues. So it seems there is an issue getting hold of the embeddings at runtime. For now, "runtime" means in the Simulator. I intend to deploy my application to iOS devices once GM 26 is released (the app also uses AFM). I'm developing on Tahoe 26 beta, running on iOS 26 beta, using Xcode 26 beta. Is this a known/expected issue? Are the embeddings expected to be a resource in the model? Is there a workaround? I did try opening the model in Xcode and saving it as an mlpackage, then adding that to my app project, but that also didn't resolve the issue.

Hi there, I have a custom keypoint detection model and want to use it via vision's CoremlRequest API. Here's some complication for input and output: For input My model expect 512x512 a image. Which would be resized and padded from a 1920x1080 frame. I use the .scaleToFit option, but can I also specify the color used for padding? For output: My model output a CoreMLFeatureValueObservation, can I have it output in a format vision recognizes? such as joints/keypoints If my model is able to output in a format vision recognizes, would it take care to restoring the coordinates back to the original frame? (undo the padding) If not, how do I restore it from .scaletofit option? Best,

I just recently updated to iOS 26 beta (23A5336a) to test an app I am developing I running an MLModel loaded from a .mlmodelc file. On the current iOS version 18.6.2 the model is running as expected with no issues. However on iOS 26 I am now getting error when trying to perform an inference to the model where I pass a camera frame into it. Below is the error I am seeing when I attempt to run an inference. at the bottom it says "Failed with status=0x1d : statusType=0x9: Program Inference error status=-1 Unable to compute the prediction using a neural network model. It can be an invalid input data or broken/unsupported model " does this indicate I need to convert my model or something? I don't understand since it runs as normal on iOS 18. Any help getting this to run again would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, processRequest:model:qos:qIndex:modelStringID:options:returnValue:error:: Could not process request ret=0x1d lModel=_ANEModel: { modelURL=file:///var/containers/Bundle/Application/04F01BF5-D48B-44EC-A5F6-3C7389CF4856/RizzCanvas.app/faceParsing.mlmodelc/ : sourceURL=(null) : UUID=46228BFC-19B0-45BF-B18D-4A2942EEC144 : key={"isegment":0,"inputs":{"input":{"shape":[512,512,1,3,1]}},"outputs":{"var_633":{"shape":[512,512,1,19,1]},"94_argmax_out_value":{"shape":[512,512,1,1,1]},"argmax_out":{"shape":[512,512,1,1,1]},"var_637":{"shape":[512,512,1,19,1]}}} : identifierSource=1 : cacheURLIdentifier=01EF2D3DDB9BA8FD1FDE18C7CCDABA1D78C6BD02DC421D37D4E4A9D34B9F8181_93D03B87030C23427646D13E326EC55368695C3F61B2D32264CFC33E02FFD9FF : string_id=0x00000000 : program=_ANEProgramForEvaluation: { programHandle=259022032430 : intermediateBufferHandle=13949 : queueDepth=127 } : state=3 : [Espresso::ANERuntimeEngine::__forward_segment 0] evaluate[RealTime]WithModel returned 0; code=8 err=Error Domain=com.apple.appleneuralengine Code=8 "processRequest:model:qos:qIndex:modelStringID:options:returnValue:error:: ANEProgramProcessRequestDirect() Failed with status=0x1d : statusType=0x9: Program Inference error" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=processRequest:model:qos:qIndex:modelStringID:options:returnValue:error:: ANEProgramProcessRequestDirect() Failed with status=0x1d : statusType=0x9: Program Inference error} [Espresso::handle_ex_plan] exception=Espresso exception: "Generic error": ANEF error: /private/var/containers/Bundle/Application/04F01BF5-D48B-44EC-A5F6-3C7389CF4856/RizzCanvas.app/faceParsing.mlmodelc/model.espresso.net, processRequest:model:qos:qIndex:modelStringID:options:returnValue:error:: ANEProgramProcessRequestDirect() Failed with status=0x1d : statusType=0x9: Program Inference error status=-1 Unable to compute the prediction using a neural network model. It can be an invalid input data or broken/unsupported model (error code: -1). Error Domain=com.apple.Vision Code=3 "The VNCoreMLTransform request failed" UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=The VNCoreMLTransform request failed, NSUnderlyingError=0x114d92940 {Error Domain=com.apple.CoreML Code=0 "Unable to compute the prediction using a neural network model. It can be an invalid input data or broken/unsupported model (error code: -1)." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Unable to compute the prediction using a neural network model. It can be an invalid input data or broken/unsupported model (error code: -1).}}}

Hi all, I am interested in unlocking unique applications with the new foundational models. I have a few questions regarding the availability of the following features: Image Input: The update in June 2025 mentions "image" 44 times (https://machinelearning.apple.com/research/apple-foundation-models-2025-updates) - however I can't seem to find any information about having images as the input/prompt for the foundational models. When will this be available? I understand that there are existing Vision ML APIs, but I want image input into a multimodal on-device LLM (VLM) instead for features like "Which player is holding the ball in the image", etc (image understanding) Cloud Foundational Model - when will this be available? Thanks! Clement :)

Hi everyone, I’ve been analyzing the current state of Sign Language accessibility tools, and I noticed a significant gap in learning tools: we lack real-time feedback for students (e.g., "Is my hand position correct?"). Most current solutions rely on 2D video processing, which struggles with depth perception and occlusion (hand-over-hand or hand-over-face gestures), which are critical in Sign Language grammar. I'd like to propose/discuss an architecture leveraging the current LiDAR + Neural Engine capabilities found in iPhone devices to solve this. The Concept: Skeleton-based Normalization Instead of training ML models on raw video frames (which introduces noise from lighting, skin tone, and clothing), we could use ARKit's Body Tracking to abstract the input. Capture: Use ARKit/LiDAR to track the user's upper body and hand joints in 3D space. Data Normalization: Extract only the vector coordinates (X, Y, Z of joints). This creates a "clean" dataset, effectively normalizing the user regardless of physical appearance. Comparison: Feed these vectors into a CoreML model trained on "Reference Skeletons" (recorded by native signers). Feedback Loop: The app calculates the geometric distance between the user's pose and the reference pose to provide specific correction (e.g., "Raise your elbow 10 degrees"). Why this approach? Solves Occlusion: LiDAR handles depth much better than standard RGB cameras when hands cross the body. Privacy: We are processing coordinates, not video streams. Efficiency: Comparing vector sequences is computationally cheaper than video analysis, preserving battery life. Has anyone experimented with using ARKit Body Anchors specifically for comparing complex gesture sequences against a stored "correct" database? I believe this "Skeleton First" approach is the key to scalable Sign Language education apps. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

v3 was released 2 years ago but developers are unable to convert models created with Keras v3 to CoreML

Hi everyone 👋 I'd like to use coremltools to see how well a model performs on a remote device as part of a CI/CD pipeline. According to the Core ML Tools "Debugging and Performance Utilities" guide, remote devices must be in a "connected" state in order for coremltools to install the ModelRunner application. The devices in our system have a "paired" state, and I'm unable to set the them as "connected." The only way I know how to connect a device is to physically plug it in to a computer and open Xcode. I don't have physical access to the devices in the CI/CD system, and the host computer that interacts with them doesn't have Xcode installed. Here are some questions I've been looking into and would love some help answering: Has anyone managed to use the coremltools performance utilities in a similar system? Can you put a device in a "connected" state if you don't have physical access to the device and if you only have access to Xcode command line tools and not the Xcode app? Is it at all possible to install the coremltools ModelRunner application on a "paired" device, for example, by manually building the app and installing it with devicectl? Would other utilities, such as the MLModelBenchmarker work as expected if the app is installed this way? Thank you!

We are evaluating various AI frameworks to use within our code, and are hoping to use some of the build-in frameworks in macOS including CoreML and Vision. However, we need to use these frameworks in a background process (system extension) that has no user session attached to it. (To be pedantic, we'll be using an XPC service that is spawned by the system extension, but neither would have an associated user session). Saying the daemon-safe frameworks list has not been updated in a while is an understatement, but it's all we have to go on. CoreGraphics isn't even listed--back then it part of ApplicationServices (I think?) and ApplicationServices is a no go. Vision does use CoreGraphics symbols and data types so I have doubts. We do have a POC that uses both frameworks and they seem to function fine but obviously having something official is better. Any Apple engineers that can comment on this?

As we described on the title, the model that I have built completely works on iPhone 15 / A16 Bionic, on the other hand it does not run on iPhone 16 / A18 chip with the following error message. E5RT encountered an STL exception. msg = MILCompilerForANE error: failed to compile ANE model using ANEF. Error=_ANECompiler : ANECCompile() FAILED. E5RT: MILCompilerForANE error: failed to compile ANE model using ANEF. Error=_ANECompiler : ANECCompile() FAILED (11) It consumes 1.5 ~ 1.6 GB RAM on the loading the model, then the consumption is decreased to less than 100MB on the both of iPhone 15 and 16. After that, only on iPhone 16, the above error is shown on the Xcode log, the memory consumption is surged to 5 to 6GB, and the system kills the app. It works well only on iPhone 15. This model is built with the Core ML tools. Until now, I have tried the target iOS 16 to 18 and the compute units of CPU_AND_NE and ALL. But any ways have not solved this issue. Eventually, what kindof fix should I do? minimum_deployment_target = ct.target.iOS18 compute_units = ct.ComputeUnit.ALL compute_precision = ct.precision.FLOAT16

Hello Apple Developer Community, I'm investigating Core ML model loading behavior and noticed that even when the compiled model path remains unchanged after an APP update, the first run still triggers an "uncached load" process. This seems to impact user experience with unnecessary delays. Question: Does Core ML provide any public API to check whether a compiled model (from a specific .mlmodelc path) is already cached in the system? If such API exists, we'd like to use it for pre-loading decision logic - only perform background pre-load when the model isn't cached. Has anyone encountered similar scenarios or found official solutions? Any insights would be greatly appreciated!

About the Core ML model encryption mention in:https://developer.apple.com/documentation/coreml/encrypting-a-model-in-your-app Ｗhen I encrypted the model, if the machine is M chip, the model will load perfectly. One the other hand, when I test the executable on an Intel chip macbook, there will be an error: Error Domain=com.apple.CoreML Code=9 "Operation not supported on this platform." UserInfo={NSLocalizedDescription=Operation not supported on this platform.} Intel test machine is 2019 macbook air with CPU: Intel i5-8210Y, OS: 14.7.6 23H626, With Apple T2 Security Chip. The encrypted model do load on M2 and M4 macbook air. If the model is NOT encrypted, it will also load on the Intel test machine. I did not find in Core ML document that suggest if the encryption/decryption support Intel chips. May I check if the decryption indeed does NOT support Intel chip?

Hello everyone, I have a visual convolutional model and a video that has been decoded into many frames. When I perform inference on each frame in a loop, the speed is a bit slow. So, I started 4 threads, each running inference simultaneously, but I found that the speed is the same as serial inference, every single forward inference is slower. I used the mactop tool to check the GPU utilization, and it was only around 20%. Is this normal? How can I accelerate it?

Hello, is it allowed to use Foundation Model in the app? Will it work when launched on the jury's device, or will it not work because the jury will not enable Apple Intelligence?

We are developing Apple AI for overseas markets and adapting it for iPhone 17 and later models. When the system language and Siri language do not match—such as the system being in English while Siri is in Chinese—it may result in Apple AI being unusable. So, I would like to ask, how can this issue be resolved, and are there other reasons that might cause it to be unusable within the app?

I am trying to benchmark and see if the Qwen3 1.7B model can run in an iPhone SE 3 [4 GB RAM]. My core problem is - Even with weight quantization the SE 3 is not able to load into memory. What I've tried: I am converting a Torch model to the Core ML format using coremltools. I have tried the following combinations of quantization and context length 8 bit + 1024 8 bit + 2048 4 bit + 1024 4 bit + 2048 All the above quantizations are done with dynamic shape with the default being [1,1] in the hope that the whole context length does not get allocated in memory The 4-bit model is approximately 865MB on disk The 8-bit model is approximately 1.7 GB on disk During load: With the int4 quantization the memory spikes during intitial load a lot. Could this be because many operations are converted to int8 or fp16 as core ML does not perform operations natively on int4? With int8 on the profiler the memory does not go above 2 GB (only 900 MB) but it is still not able to load as it shows the following error. 2GB is the limit where jetsam kills the app for the iPhone SE 3 E5RT: Error(s) occurred compiling MIL to BNNS graph: [CreateBnnsGraphProgramFromMIL]: BNNS Graph Compile: failed to preallocate file with error: No space left on device for path: /var/mobile/Containers/Data/Application/ 5B8BB7D2-06A6-4BAE-A042-407B6D805E7C/Library/Caches /com.tss.qwen3-coreml/ com.apple.e5rt.e5bundlecache/ 23A341/<long key>.tmp.12586_4362093968.bundle/ H14.bundle/main/main_bnns/bnns_program.bnnsir Some online sources have suggested activation quantization but I am unsure if that will have any impact on loading [as the spike is during load and not inference] The model spec also suggests that there is no dequantization happening (for e.g from 4 bit -> fp16) So I had couple of queries: Has anyone faced similar issues? What could be the reasons for the temporary memory spike during LOAD What are approaches that can be adopted to deal with this issue? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.