Google is reportedly nearing an agreement with Apple to integrate its Gemini AI into the iPhone. If finalized, this partnership would provide iPhone users with an additional AI assistant option, enhancing Siri’s ability to respond to more complex user inquiries. Although the terms of the deal have not been fully settled, discussions between the CEOs of both companies have occurred, and if negotiations progress smoothly, Gemini could be available on iPhones by the end of this year.
Gemini Integration on iPhone
Technology News reports that Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, confirmed Google’s intentions to incorporate Gemini into the iPhone during a recent court hearing related to the U.S. government’s antitrust case against Google. When queried about the potential collaboration, Pichai stated it was “Correct,” and he provided insights into his discussions with Apple CEO Tim Cook.
According to Pichai, Cook sought clarification on Google’s AI development plans and their future roadmap. During their dialogue, they also touched on “Gemini app distribution” prospects.
Pichai expressed hope that a deal with Apple could be finalized by mid-year, with the potential rollout of Gemini starting by the end of 2025. This integration is expected to mirror the existing collaboration with ChatGPT in Siri, launched with iOS 18, which allows users to opt-in for Siri to utilize OpenAI’s capabilities for text generation, image creation, and answering intricate questions.
The report also indicated that Cook informed Pichai about the increasing availability of third-party AI models on Apple’s platform later this year.
Notably, this is not the first mention of Apple’s intentions to explore other AI models for the iPhone. During a post-keynote event at WWDC 2024, Apple Senior Vice President Craig Federighi hinted at the possibility of integrating Gemini into Siri.
“We want to enable users ultimately to choose the models they want, maybe Google Gemini in the future,” was reportedly stated by Federighi.
Additionally, analysis conducted by MacRumors’ Aaron Perris revealed code strings from the iOS 18.4 beta that included references to Google within a “Third-party model” section, suggesting ongoing efforts to incorporate Gemini AI into Apple’s operating system.
