Apple and Meta Consider AI Partnership

Apple is reportedly in talks with Facebook parent Meta Platforms to integrate the latter’s generative AI model into the iPhone, people familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.

The report signals the latest in a string of AI-related developments for Apple. In the spring, reports emerged of Apple discussing an AI partnership with Google to integrate its Gemini AI engine into the iPhone. Then during its 2024 Worldwide Developer Conference in June, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, its own artificial intelligence system, and also announced a ChatGPT integration into its operating systems.

Still, the WSJ’s report indicates the iPhone maker doesn’t want to depend on one AI partner. Instead, Apple intends to allow its customers to use the AI models that best fit their needs. In its talks with AI developers, Apple sought a model akin to its App Store, in which AI firms can sell premium subscriptions, and Apple can cut the revenue. Given it boasts billions of active users worldwide, this could be an attractive offer for any AI company.

Other AI firms that Apple has been in talks with include Anthropic, which is backed by Google and Amazon, and the AI search engine Perplexity. Apple is also considering AI partnerships with overseas companies from regions like China, where its current chatbot of choice, ChatGPT, is banned.

By leveraging different AI partnerships, Apple can go beyond the capabilities of its own relatively slow AI development compared to rivals like Microsoft and Google. Unlike these companies, which seem to prioritize the fast rollout of AI features, Apple justifies its slower AI adoption by claiming it offers enhanced safety and privacy for users.

Apple and the other companies in question haven’t confirmed the reports about the potential partnerships.