Apple Explores Google, OpenAI Partnerships for iPhone Generative AI
Apple is exploring partnerships with tech rivals Google and OpenAI to integrate generative AI models into future iPhone features. The move comes as Apple seeks to keep the iPhone competitive in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Apple has been caught off guard by the swift advancements in generative AI and is now looking to collaborate with other tech giants to catch up. CEO Tim Cook has hinted at the introduction of generative AI features across Apple's products at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2024.
If an agreement is reached, Apple could potentially license Google's Gemini AI, making Google the sole provider of generative AI on Apple's platforms. This could be used in the new AI-powered Siri planned for spring 2026. However, a deal between the two tech giants could face regulatory scrutiny, similar to the search default arrangement between Apple's Safari browser and Google.
Apple is also in talks with OpenAI, though it's unclear if the company plans to use both models simultaneously. The potential partnerships suggest that Apple's in-house generative AI efforts are not as advanced as those of Google and others. Apple is considering using Google's Gemini engine, which powers the AI capabilities of the Pixel and Galaxy S smartphones.
Generative AI is expected to be a key component of iOS 18, introducing features capable of generating images and writing essays based on simple prompts. Apple's exploration of partnerships with Google and OpenAI signals a strategic shift in the tech giant's approach to AI, aiming to keep the iPhone at the forefront of innovation.
