Apple & Google May Join Hands to Let Gemini AI Power iPhones

Apple and Google may be collaborating again! According to Bloomberg, Apple is currently engaged in “active negotiations” with Google. The two companies have previously struck a deal that made Google the default browser on iPhones. This time around, Apple is reportedly in talks with Google to let Google’s Gemini power the GenAI features on iPhones. Apple has also considered OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic for the same.

If Apple were to partner with Google, the former’s massive consumer base of around 2 billion would undoubtedly provide a notable boost for Gemini AI. However, Apple is not the first company to consider collaborating with Google to tap into the features offered by Gemini AI. Samsung recently came out with the S24 series, whose AI features are powered by Google. Google’s AI is also featured in their own range of Pixel 8 devices.

Apple has been working on artificial intelligence for its upcoming iOS 18 operating system, which also intends to integrate cloud-based generative AI features thanks to Google’s partnership. These functions might make it easier to create pictures and compose essays in response to short text prompts.

However, according to Bloomberg, Apple’s move to collaborate with other companies for powering the GenAI on iPhones might suggest that its own generative AI technology is not as advanced as was initially speculated. Apple has been developing a large language model called Ajax, and employees have been testing an internal chatbot called Apple GPT. However, the company’s AI technology is allegedly less sophisticated than that of competitors.

It is being speculated that the deal announcement will take place during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) which will be held in June this year.