Apple, Meta reportedly talked AI partnership for Apple Intelligence

In a transfer certain to lift eyebrows, Apple and Meta Platforms reportedly mentioned integrating Meta’s generative AI mannequin into Apple Intelligence. Apart from Meta, AI startups Perplexity and Anthropic additionally reportedly talked with Apple about integrating their choices into Apple Intelligence.

Replace: The preliminary report of a attainable partnership to convey Meta’s Llama giant language mannequin to Apple Intelligence made it sound like talks had been ongoing. Nonetheless, a brand new story printed Monday mentioned Apple rejected Meta’s LLM “months in the past.”

Apple and Meta share an extended, troubled historical past

In latest months, business observers and Wall Road traders considered Apple as lagging on AI as different firms cashed in. However when revealing Apple Intelligence throughout the WWDC24 keynote, Apple laid out a transparent and compelling case for incorporating AI advances into iPhones, Macs and iPads.

Apple targeted on enjoyable, helpful and — most significantly — user-friendly methods to combine AI into its working techniques. That included giving customers the choice to make the most of OpenAI’s ChatGPT for sure duties. And the corporate mentioned it probably would work with different AI companions sooner or later.

For OpenAI, Meta and different AI firms, a foothold within the Apple ecosystem means widespread publicity and a probably profitable inflow of paying prospects. Meta apparently wished in on that motion, however such a partnership would make for unusual bedfellows.

Apple and Meta clashed a number of instances over time, publicly calling out one another in some instances. In January 2021, Fb (now Meta) CEO Mark Zuckerberg publicly mentioned, “We more and more see Apple as certainly one of our greatest opponents.” He made the remark over Apple’s App Monitoring Transparency function in iOS 17.4. One other report from early 2020 detailed how Apple plunged Fb into chaos when it broke its inner apps.

Meta needs in on Apple Intelligence … however Apple isn’t having it

Regardless of the troubled historical past, a Sunday report in The Wall Road Journal indicated the 2 firms have been discussing a attainable Apple Intelligence integration. However on Monday, Bloomberg, additionally citing nameless sources, reported that Apple spurned Meta’s bid for a coveted spot in Apple Intelligence.

“The 2 firms aren’t in discussions about utilizing Meta’s Llama chatbot in an AI partnership and solely held temporary talks in March, mentioned the folks, who requested to not be recognized as a result of the scenario is non-public,” Bloomberg wrote. “The dialogue a few partnership didn’t attain any formal stage, and Apple has no energetic plans to combine Llama.”

Apple confirmed off Apple Intelligence, with an upgraded Siri and a ChatGPT integration, throughout its WWDC24 keynote on June 10. The corporate additionally mentioned it stays open to integrating different giant language fashions, giving customers flexibility in what AI providers they need to use. Whereas Apple Intelligence will course of most consumer queries, it may well cross off complicated inquiries to a third-party AI mannequin.

Apple received’t pay any firm for integrating their AI into Apple Intelligence

Earlier than WWDC24, a number of stories claimed Apple was additionally speaking to Google about integrating Gemini in iOS 18. Nonetheless, the AI mannequin was lacking from iOS 18’s official unveiling, suggesting talks between the 2 firms are ongoing.

It’s unclear if Apple will cost third-party firms for integrating their AI fashions into Apple Intelligence. Regardless of its recognition, OpenAI will not be paying Apple any cash, neither is the latter paying for ChatGPT entry. As an alternative, a report signifies OpenAI is getting paid in publicity for ChatGPT’s iOS 18 integration.

Nonetheless, Apple may take a reduce from the subscription charges AI firms make from integrating their AI fashions into Apple Intelligence.

We initially printed this information story on a possible AI partnership between Apple and Meta Platforms on June 23, 2024. We added details about Apple rejecting Meta’s advances.