Apple has reportedly resumed negotiations with OpenAI about integrating the startup’s AI technologies, including its ChatGPT chatbot, into its upcoming operating system for iPhones and iPads – iOS18. According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple wants to use OpenAI’s language models to power a new AI-based chatbot assistant that could replace or supplement Siri.
The discussions center around licensing OpenAI’s technology to create an advanced chatbot or virtual assistant powered by large language models like the one behind ChatGPT. Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman that Apple is seeking to deeply integrate these generative AI capabilities into iOS 18’s core features and apps.
The report also suggests that Apple’s AI plans for iOS 18 are not limited to OpenAI. The iPhone maker has also restarted negotiations with Google about potentially using the search giant’s Gemini chatbot technology.
Bloomberg reports Apple could strike deals with both OpenAI and Google or ultimately go with neither and rely solely on its own in-house AI models.
The talks with OpenAI were first revealed earlier this year when 9to5Mac reported on references to a “SiriSummarization” framework integrating with ChatGPT in Apple’s internal iOS 18 code. More recently, the New York Times corroborated Apple’s negotiations with Google over using Gemini.
If the deals go through, an OpenAI-powered chatbot could enhance question-answering, analysis, writing, and coding assistance on Apple’s devices. However, concerns remain about the potential biases and inaccuracies of the current large language models.
Apple is expected to unveil its AI strategy and new AI-centric hardware and software features at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The final decisions on partnerships with OpenAI, Google, or others for the AI core of iOS 18 will likely be made public then.