Apple is in discussions with Google about using the search giant’s generative artificial intelligence model called Gemini for its next iPhone. The talks are preliminary, and the exact scope of a potential deal hasn’t been defined. Apple’s chief executive, Tim Cook, has promised investors that the company will introduce new generative A.I. capabilities later this year.
Apple and Google declined to comment on the potential deal. An agreement between the two tech giants would extend one of the most longstanding partnerships in the industry. Goole has been a critical contributor to Apple’s success since the iPhone’s introduction in 2007. The tech giant provided Google Maps for navigation and became the default search engine on the iPhone’s Safari browser, a lucrative agreement worth over $18 billion to Apple annually.
Despite delays in developing its own large language model, Apple has the potential to be a big player in A.I. The company’s two billion actively used devices make it an attractive partner for Google and others. A potential deal between Apple and Google would make generative A.I. even more mainstream.
Google has faced setbacks to its A.I. ambitions, with its first A.I. chatbot, Bard, and more recently Gemini, facing criticism. However, an Apple-Google deal could be a crucial vote of confidence for the search giant. The costs associated with running large language models in the cloud are high, but companies are optimistic that profits will increase as A.I. systems improve.
A new deal between Apple and Google may draw scrutiny from U.S. regulators, as the Justice Department is in the final stages of a lawsuit against Google for harming competition law. Judge Amit P. Mehta is expected to deliver a verdict this year.
