Key Takeaways:
Apple had been in discussions with Google and artificial intelligence startup OpenAI to power some of the AI features that will be included in the upcoming iOS 18. Now the tech giant has finalized a deal with the Microsoft-backed AI firm to leverage its chatbot, ChatGPT, for the iPhone’s newest features.
Apple and OpenAI Partner to Bring AI to the iPhone
Bloomberg’s tech analyst Mark Gruman confirmed the rumors after speaking with people familiar with the matter. Apple has renewed talks with OpenAI to use the company’s technology to power the new AI features that will be coming to the iPhone 16 and beyond.
The partnership is set to be formally announced during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, where the new software update for iPhones will be officially unveiled. Gruman notes that OpenAI could be a major component of this year’s conference.
This comes shortly after news surfaced that Apple was reportedly in talks with Google to license its Large Language Model (LLM) Gemini for various iPhone-related services. Gruman said those discussions haven’t led to an agreement, but are ongoing.
The partnership with OpenAI to power iPhone’s AI features using ChatGPT will likely provide Apple with a competitive edge over Samsung, which relies exclusively on Google’s Gemini to power some advanced AI features found on the Galaxy S24 lineup.
Apple Fans Can Preview AI-Powered iPhone with Developer Beta Version of iOS18
Gruman says the new OpenAI-powered features could be previewed in the first developer beta version of iOS18, which will launched soon after the WWDC, followed by a stable version of the OS that will be available on the iPhone 16 when it is unveiled in September.
Apple does have a research and development team working on its AI endeavors, but it doesn’t seem like those programs are quite ready to take over. Hence it was only logical for Cupertino to approach established players in the field.
Some new AI-powered features coming to the iPhone are rumored to be systems for transcribing memos, retouching photos, making searches on Safari much faster, and sensational updates to the Siri voice assistant.
Apple is also bringing AI features to macOS and iPadOS, which is expected to have a feature for determining whether a particular AI-related task should be done on the device or via the cloud, reported Gruman.
On-device AI has some obvious advantages, such as improved privacy, the ability to run offline or in places with poor internet connectivity, and reduced response times. However, the problem arises when LLMs, which are supported by huge servers with billions of parameters, don’t have access to the same power when on-device. As a result, these programs may seem to be less powerful or knowledgeable than usual.
AI-powered iOS18 Expected to Launch with the iPhone 16 in September
There are reports that Apple may also be implementing a cloud-based LLM for iOS18’s AI features. Due to privacy concerns, the company is most likely to go the opposite route of Google and Meta by not profiling users.
Apple has not specified which existing iPhones will get the upcoming AI features, but if a pattern is to be observed, then the features will likely debut on the latest flagship and then slowly trickle down to the older offerings.
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