Alphabet Aims for Gemini Integration in iOS This Year

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is actively pursuing the integration of its AI system, Gemini, into Apple's iOS platform. This announcement was made by Alphabet and Google CEO during a recent court session in Washington, D.C., amidst ongoing discussions regarding the future of Google Search and the potential cessation of Chrome distribution due to a filed antitrust lawsuit by the U.S. Department of Justice.

As part of the ongoing legal proceedings, Apple is also involved, stemming from its lucrative search deal with Alphabet, which generates significant revenue for the iPhone manufacturer. Pichai's comments reflect Google's willingness to collaborate with major corporations. Although Apple has developed its own AI system, known as Apple Intelligence, it has also incorporated ChatGPT to enhance its functionalities. Apple's software chief has hinted that the company is open to partnerships with other tech firms, suggesting a possible interest in integrating various large language models (LLMs) beyond its own.

Pichai expressed optimism about finalizing a deal within the year, potentially allowing Gemini to be included in the upcoming iOS 19, which is anticipated to launch in the fall. Observers speculate that, similar to ChatGPT, Gemini's integration might be presented as an optional feature. According to the CEO, high-level discussions have already taken place with Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, and there is hope for an agreement to be reached by mid-year.

Apple is set to hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, where significant updates, including a redesign of iOS and macOS, are expected. The collaboration between Apple and Google dates back to 2007, when Google provided data for Apple's Maps application and launched a dedicated YouTube client for iPhones. The longstanding search deal between the two companies continues to be a substantial aspect of their relationship, affecting iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. In the Safari browser, Google remains the default search engine, with Apple receiving share from this arrangement.

Apple had aimed to match competitors like OpenAI and Google with its AI initiative, but its current AI capabilities are relatively basic. Users can perform tasks such as text correction and summarization or generate images, although these images do not achieve realistic quality.