For the moment it is little more than a rumor which, however, according to Bloomberg has solid foundations. Apple and Google they would be in talks to bring artificial intelligence Gemini on the next iPhones. The two giants are already partners as regards the Google search engine which is the one set by default on Apple devices, the hypothesis of a further partnership is therefore not entirely divorced from reality.
If confirmed, it would be news with double and antithetical significance: it would upset the balance among the forces at play in the AI sector and would confirm that Apple is at a strong disadvantage compared to the competition. A partnership between Apple and Google, even if signed only in the name of Gemini, risks monopolizing the market. But let’s go in order.
Google, Apple, Gemini and iPhones
Gemini is a generative artificial intelligence on which Google is focusing a lot, so much so that it has already launched an evolution of the original model, making it more performing and powerful. At the moment Gemini aims to be a direct competitor of ChatGPT, OpenAI’s generative AI on which Microsoft’s Copilot is based, which it co-financed by writing checks for 10 billion dollars.
The market could be completely upset: the company that produces the most used mobile operating system in the world (Android) makes an agreement with Apple, which holds 24.7% of the world smartphone market, so that it introduces Gemini into the operating systems of future iPhones.
This would split the market in two leaving Microsoft in a disadvantaged position in the mobile sector, where generative AI would mostly have the mark of the new partnership between Apple and Google.
The evolution of iOS 18
In recent times, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that iOS 18, the next version of the operating system for iPhone, it will focus on artificial intelligence.
Early 2024 Apple acquired the Canadian company Darwin AI (an operation that was only made known in March), suggesting a certain difficulty in keeping up with direct competitors, namely Microsoft, OpenAI, Perplexity and Google. This partnership decisively plugs the shortcomings that the media accuse Apple of.
However, the fact that Apple is moving on multiple fronts suggests that things may be a little different from the mere agreement with Google to use Gemini on its mobile devices.
The Ajax model
Again according to well-informed rumors, Apple has been working for some time on two separate projects focused on AI. On the one hand, there is an AI model called Ajax, and on the other hand, a chatbot called Apple GPT which would already be in the limited testing phase (Apple employees).
So there is lots of irons in the fire and this shows that Apple does not intend to let go: AI, especially generative ones, will be adventure companions for anyone who uses a device connected to the web, whether mobile or fixed.