Mark Gurman: Apple is in talks with Google to integrate Gemini's AI model into the iPhone

Apple recently discussed the prospects of collaboration with ChatGPT OpenAI developer.

Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, citing his own sources at Apple, writes that the company is in talks with Google about integrating the Gemini artificial intelligence mechanism into the iPhone. Apple also considered the possibilities of using the large GPT language model and had discussions with OpenAI.

Apple and Google have been linked by a search partnership for many years - Alphabet has been paying billions to the iPhone manufacturer annually to have its search engine default in the Safari browser.

The deal will bring Gemini closer to billions of potential users, but it also indicates that Apple hasn't progressed too far in developing its own alternative (and it will be interesting to see how antitrust regulators react to the agreement - Google's current search partnership with Apple is already the subject of a lawsuit by the US Department of Justice and criticism in the EU).

A number of new capabilities based on Apple's own artificial intelligence models are planned to be released in iOS 18 - however, they will be focused on device-based features rather than cloud-based ones. This includes updated Siri and AI integration in "Messages," Apple Music, Keynote, Pages, and others.

In early 2023, reports emerged that Apple was testing its own large language model under the code name Ajax. Some employees were also testing a basic chatbot called Apple GPT. However, according to Gurman's sources, these technologies are still inferior to those of Google and other competitors, so a partnership seems like the best option.

Gemini recently made headlines when it inaccurately generated queries regarding certain groups of people. Google CEO Sundar Pichai called such actions "unacceptable" and ordered the generation of images to be stopped.

It is worth mentioning that Apple CEO Tim Cook promised to make a "big announcement on AI" in 2024. Last year, he said that he himself uses ChatGPT, but noted that there are "a few issues that need to be addressed." Cook pledged that new artificial intelligence features will appear on Apple platforms in a "very deliberate manner."

Gurman notes that using AI features from another company also potentially reduces Apple's level of responsibility.