Apple is reportedly in talks to add Google’s Gemini AI product to its iPhones, but both companies face increased scrutiny from antitrust regulators and Google’s AI chatbot. This is despite the fact that it has been revamped following massive backlash for producing an ahistorical, “woke” image.
The Cupertino, California-based company wants to license to Google Gemini some of the new AI features it plans to release on its iOS operating system later this year. reported by bloombergThe statement is based on a person familiar with the negotiations.
According to the report, Apple also discussed a potential AI partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT. Microsoft, a major investor in OpenAI, is locked in a race with Google to develop advanced AI tools.
Shares in Google’s parent company Alphabet rose nearly 7% in morning trading after the report surfaced. Apple rose nearly 3%. Microsoft stock was flat.
Representatives for Apple, Google and OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment.
The companies have not yet agreed on the financial terms of the potential deal or how the partnership will be branded or implemented. Google’s AI tools could potentially access a network of more than 2 billion Apple devices, giving the company an immediate lead in the AI race.
Apple and Google’s partnership will essentially serve as an extension of the companies’ widely criticized partnership in online search, which came under intense scrutiny in the Justice Department’s landmark antitrust case. Become.
“This is brazen, to say the least,” one tech policy official told the Post. “Google is awaiting a ruling discussing similar issues regarding search defaults, and Apple itself reportedly faces imminent antitrust complaints from the Department of Justice.”
Google reportedly paid Apple about $18 billion in 2021 alone to have its search engine enabled by default in the Safari browser used on iPhones. A judge is expected to rule later this year on whether Google maintained an illegal monopoly.
If the partnership goes through, Apple would use Google Gemini for tasks such as creating images and providing written responses to user prompts, according to the report.
It comes as Google disabled Gemini’s image generation tools in recent weeks after it started pumping out bizarre photos of female NHL players, Asian women dressed as black Vikings, Founding Fathers, and Nazi-era German soldiers. Despite the fact that
Google co-founder Sergey Brin admitted that the tech giant “definitely failed at image generation.” These images sparked suspicions that Google had injected political bias into its chatbot, but Gemini’s product has challenged that claim after critics exposed his leader’s “woke” tweets. It got even worse.
Apple has launched a major charm offensive against President Biden’s White House, including a series of visits by Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, as it battles various allegations of anti-competitive conduct.
The Department of Justice is said to be filing a major antitrust lawsuit against Apple in the coming days.
“The timing of this announcement, with antitrust litigation on the horizon, is no coincidence. To be clear, Apple is trying to stave off competition and protect the monopoly power of its closest “rivals.” They are openly colluding with Google,” said Sasha Howarth, executive director of the Technology Oversight Project.
“Google and Apple have already been accused of operating ‘as one company.’ They cannot be allowed to use the same playbook to integrate the AI field,” Howarth added. . “This partnership raises red flags and requires an investigation by the Department of Justice and the White House.”
As the Post reported last month, a group of antitrust watchdogs recently said Google is “moving full steam ahead with anticompetitive practices to maintain market dominance even after the Justice Department trial begins.” ‘ warned US authorities.
Google’s critics, such as outgoing Republican Rep. Ken Buck, warn that unless regulators intervene, the company will use its AI tools to further tighten its monopoly over online search.
Google has pushed back on this criticism, saying its customers use its search engine because it is the best product available, and that it and mobile service providers like AT&T are in debt. He argued in court that the large payment to him was simply fair compensation.
In Europe, antitrust watchdogs are forcing Google to make it easy for users to change their default search engine.
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said in a note to clients that the deal would be a “huge win for Google as it enters the Apple ecosystem and gains access to Cupertino’s golden installed base.” He said it would be.
“For Apple, this provides the foundation and technology blueprint to double down on the AI capabilities currently in development within Apple Park, making iPhone 16 a potentially groundbreaking iPhone release centered around AI capabilities. “This guarantees that,” Ives added.
Apple is expected to announce details of its AI strategy at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The report said Apple is unlikely to announce any agreement on AI plans before that event.
