AbstractIntelligent‐PID (i‐PID) control proposed by Fliess is a simple control algorithm. The controller is designed based on ultra‐local model, and consisted of PID type controller and derivatives of reference signal and controlled variables. Authors have considered discrete i‐PID controller and its properties, and one of the result was that PD controller was sufficient in discrete time domain. In discrete i‐PID controller, PD type controller is still required to ensure convergence of controlled error to zero, and PD type parameters affects convergence property, fast‐response property and stability. In this paper, predictive functional control (PFC) based on an ultra‐local model is proposed. By introducing of PFC, controlled variable converge to reference value without PD type controller. User‐specified parameters of the proposed controller is smaller than the conventional i‐PID controller. Characteristics of the proposed controller are compared with discrete i‐PID controller by numerical examples.