Apple is discussing a possible deal to integrate Google’s synthetic intelligence platform, Gemini, into the iPhone, Bloomberg reported on Monday, in what could simply be a primary deal between rival tech giants and have an effect on the entire AI industry.
According to Bloomberg, Apple is in “active negotiations” to license Gemini’s AI models to integrate its generative AI into an upcoming iPhone software update later this year.
Apple’s talks with Google stick to talks with OpenAI, subsidized through Microsoft, the maker of ChatGPT and DALL-E, the report adds.
Apple will release iOS 18, the newest edition of its cellular operating system, later this year and is expected to incorporate several artificial intelligence features, adding a more rugged edition of the Siri virtual assistant.
While the iPhone maker is reportedly running its own AI tools, which will run on its devices, the Gemini integration will allow it to take advantage of Google’s more complex, cloud-based generative AI services, such as a chatbot or symbol generator.
According to the report, the deal is not yet closed, and if it fails, Apple could end up opting for a chosen AI provider such as OpenAI or Anthropic.
On Apple’s earnings conference call last month, CEO Tim Cook said, “In terms of generative AI. . . We’ve got a few things we’re incredibly excited about that we’ll communicate later this year. He later added, “Let me just say that I think there’s a huge opportunity for Apple with generative AI and AI, without going into a lot more detail or getting ahead of myself. “
Although the two companies are competitors in the smartphone market, they have had a multibillion-dollar deal for years to keep Google as the default search engine on Apple devices. That deal has come under scrutiny for the past year as Google battles a landmark antitrust case. The search deal has allowed Google to maintain its near-unchallenged dominance in search and a similar deal on AI is very likely to give it an edge over others. Microsoft, OpenAI, and Meta. For this reason, any potential deal between the two corporations will most likely attract increased scrutiny from regulators around the world.
$18 billion. This is the reported amount Google will pay Apple last year to remain the default search engine on iPhones.
Earlier this year, Samsung announced that its new flagship Galaxy G24 series of smartphones would use Gemini to force various AI features. Gemini is used to force some parts of the phone’s texting, note, voice recorder, and keyboard apps. This integration included the cloud-based Gemini Pro style and the smaller Gemini Nano style that runs on the phone.
Apple is in talks to enable generative AI on Google’s Gemini iPhone (Bloomberg)