With all major smartphone companies being on top of their games, Apple doesn’t want to stay behind. Currently, Apple is working on a new iOS update–iOS 18– and we hear on the grapevine that it is going to be the biggest update ever. Now, Apple is in talks to put Google’s Gemini AI engine into the iPhones.
According to people familiar with the situation, Apple and Google are discussing a deal to let Apple license Gemini, Google’s set of generative AI models, to power some new features coming to the iPhone software this year, reports Bloomberg.
Also read: iOS 18 could go big on AI: Here’s what we expect
Apple also recently talked with OpenAI about using its model for the iPhones, according to sources.
Also read: Is AI Apple’s major focus for iOS 18? Here’s all you need to know
If Apple and Google make this deal happen, it would add to their existing search partnership. Google pays Apple billions each year to be the default search engine on iPhones and other devices. However, they haven’t yet decided on the terms or how the AI agreement would work, the people said.
Apple is getting ready to introduce new features with iOS 18, the next iPhone operating system, using its own AI models. However, those enhancements will focus on on-device features, not cloud-based ones. Therefore, Apple is looking for a partner to handle the complex tasks of generative AI, such as creating images and writing essays from basic prompts.
Since the beginning of last year, Apple has been experimenting with its own big language model called Ajax. The company has also been testing a simple chatbot called Apple GPT among some employees. However, according to people, Apple’s technology isn’t as advanced as tools from Google and other competitors, making a partnership seem like a more favourable option.
While the discussions between Apple and Google are active, it’s unlikely that any deal will be announced until June, during Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference.
There’s a chance that they might not reach an agreement, or Apple might decide to work with another generative AI provider, like OpenAI. Alternatively, Apple could choose to collaborate with multiple partners, similar to how it handles search in its web browser. Other options for generative AI providers include Anthropic, which offers a chatbot called Claude.
