Gemini AI Integration: Google and Apple Collaborate on iPhones

Google and Apple are in discussions about incorporating the Gemini AI model into iPhones, as confirmed by Google CEO Sundar Pichai. This announcement came during a court session in Washington linked to the ongoing antitrust case initiated by the US Department of Justice (DOJ). Pichai expressed optimism about finalising an agreement with Apple by mid-2025.

Details of the Partnership

Reports from Reuters indicate that Pichai revealed during questioning by DOJ attorney Veronica Onyema that he began talks with Apple CEO Tim Cook in 2023, with dialogues continuing throughout 2024. A potential deal this year would integrate Gemini AI into Apple Intelligence, which encompasses Apple’s suite of AI-driven features.

Timing of the Integration

According to an earlier report by Bloomberg, the addition of Gemini in iPhones may align with the release of iOS 19, anticipated to be unveiled at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Additionally, code discovered in an iOS 18.4 beta earlier this year suggested that Apple is preparing to include Gemini as an AI model alternative.

Current AI Offerings at Apple

Currently, users can access Apple’s AI features through integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Since iOS 18.2, Siri has been able to provide responses generated by ChatGPT when it is unable to independently answer a question, given user consent. ChatGPT is also a component of Apple Intelligence, powering features like the writing tool and Visual Intelligence. The integration of Google’s Gemini would offer users a choice between Gemini and ChatGPT for these tools, without requiring an additional app download.

Enhancing User Experience

Presently, the Gemini application is available on iOS, but the planned integration intends to embed it more thoroughly into the operating system. This would allow for a more seamless AI experience, akin to the existing utilisation of ChatGPT.

Implications of the Partnership

These discussions regarding a partnership occur in a challenging context for Google. The DOJ, alongside a coalition of state attorneys general, is pursuing significant antitrust remedies that could enforce changes to Google’s operational practices. Proposed measures include restrictions on Google paying to become the default search engine on devices, mandatory sharing of search data with competitors, and even divesting parts of its business, such as the Chrome browser.

Pichai cautioned that such actions would drastically hinder Google’s capacity to invest in research and development. He characterised the proposals as “extraordinary,” noting that it would be straightforward to reverse engineer Google Search from external sources, effectively implying a “de facto divestiture” of the intellectual property concerning search.

Furthermore, Pichai mentioned that Google is exploring the introduction of advertising within the Gemini app, which could hint at broader monetisation strategies as competition in the AI sector intensifies.

If the collaboration between Apple and Google materialises, it would represent a significant move towards Apple’s aim of providing various AI options within its ecosystem, intensifying competition within the mobile AI arena.