Google Gemini on iPhone could be a turning point for AI

For more than a decade, Apple and Google have constantly competed for dominance in the mobile market. Therefore, reports from Bloomberg , The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal revealing that these two giants could cooperate caused quite a surprise.

According to rumors, Google and Apple are discussing to bring Google’s Gemini AI model to the iPhone. On the surface, this seems like a big win for Google, as it means its AI will be integrated into two of the world’s most popular computing platforms: iOS and Android.

But collaborations like this could have huge implications for the role of generative AI in smartphones, suggesting it is becoming a necessary feature for new phones rather than just This is a suitable feature for selected models. Such an agreement, which is still just a rumor, would implicitly confirm that Apple cannot wait any longer to bring the next generation of AI to the iPhone.

“This reinforces that (next generation) AI features are already having a major impact on everyone, including Apple,” said Bob O’Donnell, President and Chief Analyst of Technalysis Research. know.

Representatives from Apple and Google have not yet responded to requests for comment on this news.

If the report is true, Apple is considering using Google’s model to power some upcoming features while it continues to develop its own AI-based iPhone tools. According to Bloomberg, Google’s AI models will likely be used to power cloud-based iPhone functions, including on-demand content creation and photo editing tools. But reports also say Apple is in discussions with other companies like OpenAI about possible collaborations.

Although Apple and Google are competitors, this is not the first time they have cooperated in such a way. Google is currently paying Apple billions of dollars to be the default search engine on the iPhone, so collaborating on the underlying technology for upcoming AI features appears to be an extension of that relationship.

“In that context, Google could simply be talking to Apple about the next version of search,” said Avi Greengart, President and Lead Analyst at Techsponential.

It’s also not uncommon for Apple to partner with other tech companies on certain components and technologies while it develops its own alternatives in-house. For example, Qualcomm supplies Apple with 5G modems for the iPhone, while Apple previously used Intel chips for its Mac line before it created its own M-series processors.

It’s impossible to know for sure how the AI ​​partnership with Google will play out, if it happens at all. But there is an example to refer to: the Galaxy S24 series. Samsung’s trio of new smartphones include a host of AI-powered features, such as the ability to translate calls in real time, summarize notes, manipulate and delete objects in photos, and launch Search Google for objects on the screen just by circling them.

Samsung takes a hybrid approach with these features, appropriately named Galaxy AI. That means some tools are powered by Samsung’s AI models, while others are powered by Google. Samsung has hinted at the possibility of charging for some Galaxy AI features in the future, a tactic Apple is no stranger to with its range of subscription services.

But it’s also important to note that Samsung and Apple have different product strategies. Samsung likes to be quick and ahead of the curve, while Apple often waits until the technology matures or until it finds its own unique approach.

Based on Bloomberg’s report, it seems like any Gemini-based features will essentially be a stopgap for the larger AI-based changes coming to the iPhone. Apple is said to be developing AI features that will be processed on-device and integrated into the iPhone at the operating system level.