---
title: "Why people mix up the three names"
lesson_id: "01"
---

# Why people mix up the three names

- **Lesson ID:** 01
- **Goal:** Separate Core AI, Core ML, and MLX. State why an Edge FDE must pick the stack that matches the app.
- **Human lesson:** [01-three-names-one-job.html](01-three-names-one-job.html)

## Prerequisites

- A basic idea that an app can run a model on a phone or a Mac.
- No prior Apple framework work.

## Inputs, outputs, and artifacts

- **Inputs:** The three names, the Edge FDE shipping job, and the three sibling courses.
- **Outputs:** One sentence per tool. A clear reason the names are not interchangeable.
- **Artifacts:** Three progressive `.flow` diagrams in the human lesson.

## Agent build steps

1. Say people mix the names because they sound close and they all appear in Apple AI talk.
2. Give each tool one job. Core ML ships a classic model. Core AI ships a custom neural or generative model on 27 or later. MLX trains and tests on a Mac.
3. State the Edge FDE cost of a wrong pick: the model may not load, or the reader may train in the wrong place.
4. Mention Foundation Models only as Apple's system language-model API, not as a fourth shipping file format.
5. Link [Model architectures in plain English](../model-architectures-plain/), [Core AI models, typed](../coreai-models-typed/), and [PyTorch to Core AI in Xcode](../pytorch-core-ai-xcode/).

## Constraints

Keep the language simple and literal. No metaphor, quizzes, Mermaid, or em dashes. Do not invent APIs.

## Key concepts

- People mix the names because they sound close and all show up in Apple AI talk.
- Core ML ships a classic machine-learning model in an app.
- Core AI ships a custom neural or generative model on iOS 27 or later.
- MLX trains and tests models on a Mac.
- Foundation Models is Apple's system language model, not your weights.

## Takeaways

- You can give one sentence per tool without swapping names.
- You can pick a stack from OS, model type, and output.
- You will not call Mac training Core AI or a shipped `.aimodel` Core ML.

## Acceptance checks

- Each of the three names has one stated job.
- The page says an Edge FDE must match the stack to the app.
- The three sibling courses are linked with the exact relative URLs.
- Progressive `.flow` diagrams and an Agent brief link are present.
- [ ] Proceed to [lesson 02 brief](02-core-ml-when.llms.md).