Apple in talks to include Google AI in iOS update — report

Apple is negotiating a partnership with Google to implement the latter’s large language model (LLM) generative artificial intelligence (AI), Gemini, into an upcoming iOS update, Bloomberg reports.

The two are currently discussing licensing iOS features that will use the Google AI LLM and how it will be branded, per the report.

This would not be the first partnership between the two tech giants.

Google has been in a deal to be the default search engine for Apple’s Safari browser for some years — the details of which had been kept secret until an anti-monopoly trial in 2023.

Apple’s AI ventures

Apple recently acquired startup DarwinAI to boost its chances in the AI race.

This followed Apple CEO Tim Cook’s announcement that the company was “significantly” investing in generative AI (genAI).

The iPhone manufacturers have also shown interest in using OpenAI products to upgrade iOS.

Apple reportedly wants Gemini and ChatGPT solely for genAI functionality and will use their own AI models for features and capabilities specific to iOS 18.

Apple will speak further about these developments during their Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) held in June of this year.

Gemini

Gemini, released this time last year, was developed in response to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which was released several months earlier.

When OpenAI announced ChatGPT, Google realised it needed a product that could compete, given the potential for its search engine.

At the same time, Microsoft was implementing ChatGPT into Bing and its AI assistant, Copilot.

Reuters reported that Google and Microsoft are racing to implement their AI models into as many everyday devices as possible.

Samsung used Gemini to implement genAI in their S24 flagship series, which was released in January.

These features included a chat assistant, live translation during a phone call and genAI photo editing.

Gemini has recently been under fire for historically inaccurate and offensive image generation, after which the feature was immediately paused until further notice.