Apple is reportedly in talks with Google to integrate Gemini for advanced AI features on the iPhone

Apple is reportedly in discussions with Google to bring the capabilities of Gemini, its large language models based on generative artificial intelligence (AI), to the iPhone. If this deal goes through, iOS 18 could arrive with Gemini-powered AI features. The company has also held talks with ChatGPT maker OpenAI for the same, according to the report. The Cupertino-based tech giant is said to be turning to third-party technology providers as its own AI model development isn’t progressing as quickly as the company had hoped.

Citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter, a report Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said Apple is “in talks to build Google’s Gemini AI engine into the iPhone.” According to the report, the deal, if agreed, would see Apple license Gemini’s family of AI models to build new capabilities and features for its iPhone. However, he also emphasized that the AI ​​features will be on-device rather than cloud-based like the Gemini Android app.

This would mean that while the base model would be provided by Google, Apple would build upon it to focus it on a particular task and add that limited functionality with iOS. Notably, AI features are said to be announced during the unveiling of iOS 18 at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024 in June. However, discussions appear to be at an early stage, as Apple is reported to have held similar talks with OpenAI as well.

Rumor has it that the reason Apple is looking for third-party AI technology is that its technology in its current state is quite inferior. Notably, a group of researchers affiliated with the company published a preprint version of a paper that highlights an AI model called MM1 that is capable of multimodal capabilities. But as a drawback, the authors also state that the underlying model is still in the pre-training phase as it refines the architecture.

Gurman previously hinted that AI features coming to the iPhone could be added to improve several functionalities. Siri was touted to get AI features to improve natural language processing as well as perform more complex tasks. Apple Music could also get AI that creates personalized playlists for users.