- Apple is reportedly in talks with Google for bringing Gemini to iPhones.
- The deal would result in using Gemini for generative AI features on iPhones.
- Apple has also held talks with OpenAI, the report added.
Apple is usually late to the party when it comes to new technologies and products. One area where it’s lagging is AI on iPhones. It was reported in January that Apple is bringing generative AI features with iOS 18 later this year. Now, a new report adds to this saying that Apple is planning to use Gemini, Google’s set of AI large language models. The iPhone maker is also in talks with ChatGPT’s OpenAI.
Apple to use Google’s Gemini for generative AI on iPhones
- Apple is in “active negotiations” with Google to incorporate Gemini into iPhones for generative AI features, according to a report by Bloomberg. But details of the deal between Apple and Google haven’t been finalised yet, and how exactly it would be as a final product.
- The report adds that Apple is already working on new iOS 18 features based on its own AI models but these are restricted to the device, and not the cloud. Apple has been working on its large language model codenamed ‘Ajax’ since last year. For more complex features like creating images based on text prompts, Apple needs another source.
- The reason behind Apple considering a partnership is reportedly because its own AI models aren’t ready yet for complex features. Apple’s AI tools are still inferior to those of Google’s and OpenAI’s, the report added.
This would mark the second Apple-Google partnership after the two’s deal to keep Google as the default search engine on iPhones. It’s interesting to see how exactly Gemini will be incorporated into iPhones for generative AI features. Apple might also just partner with OpenAI for its AI features since nothing is official yet.
We should get more clarity by June when Apple announces iOS 18 at WWDC 2024. It’s already reported that iOS 18 will come with AI features such as auto-summarising and auto-completing on native apps including Pages and Keynote. Apple Music will also be updated with AI to create better playlists. Siri is also slated to get a major AI overhaul in iOS 18, and Apple is also reportedly working on a new AI-based system for AppleCare employees.
Google had launched Gemini (previously Bard) as an Android app earlier this year globally. It’s similar to ChatGPT where you can have a conversation with the chatbot, ask questions and do tasks like finding a YouTube video of a particular topic. There’s no dedicated iOS app but iPhone users can access Gemini features through the Google app.
