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How to have an AI model complete a task on a real iPhone with Esp32 Iphone Agent

Give a plain-language goal and let a vision model tap, swipe and type on the phone until done.

Authorization notice. Esp32 Iphone Agent is dual-use. Only use it on software, sites and systems you own or have explicit permission to test.

Credentials. The model endpoint key is stored in the iOS Keychain, so protect the key and the phone that holds it.

dual-use. The agent acts with real hands on the phone, so only automate devices and accounts you own or are allowed to use.

Who it is forA developer or tinkerer who wants an AI model to run routine phone tasks, such as setting alarms or changing settings, on a physical iPhone with no computer attached at run time.

The problemPhone automation usually needs a computer, a developer account or a jailbreak. The phone is still the only real device the task must run on.

The outcomeThe agent reads the mirrored screen, plans and acts through the USB HID hands, and reports when the goal is finished.

What you need first

  • An ESP32-S3 board, tested with a Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32S3 (plain version, 8 MB PSRAM)
  • An iPhone on iOS 18 or later with cellular data
  • An OpenAI-compatible vision model endpoint and API key
  • A Mac with Xcode, needed once to flash the board and build the app

Steps

  1. Install arduino-cli, the ESP32 core 3.3.x and NimBLE-Arduino 2.5.x, then run arduino-cli lib install "[email protected]".
  2. Plug the board into the Mac and run hardware/flash.sh.
  3. Run cp ios/Config/Local.xcconfig.example ios/Config/Local.xcconfig, set DEVELOPMENT_TEAM and IA_BUNDLE_ID, then run open ios/IPhoneAgent.xcodeproj and launch the IPhoneAgent scheme on the iPhone.
  4. In the app, complete setup: pair the board, join its Wi-Fi and enable Screen Mirroring to ESP32 Agent, turn on AssistiveTouch, then enter your model endpoint and key and choose a vision model.
  5. Type a goal such as "Open Settings and go to Wi-Fi" and press Start. Watch the run and stop it from the Dynamic Island if needed.

Prompt for your agent

Using the repo onehumanbeing/esp32-iphone-agent, guide me through the four setup steps in its README for the iPhone at <device name>. Expected output: a checklist showing which of the four setup steps are complete. Verify that AssistiveTouch is on and the pointer calibration has finished before any task is started.

Caveat. The app needs a Mac with Xcode once, and the phone's Wi-Fi goes to the board's hotspot during runs, so the model is reached over cellular data.

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