Apple and OpenAI in Talks for iPhone Chatbot Development

Apple has resumed discussions with OpenAI regarding the integration of the startup’s technology for new AI features in upcoming iPhones, according to Bloomberg.

Journalist Mark Gurman reports that the two companies are negotiating potential agreements and how OpenAI’s features might be incorporated into iOS 18, the next iPhone operating system.

Similar discussions took place earlier this year, but no progress was made. Concurrently, Apple is in talks with Google about licensing the Gemini chatbot.

The company has yet to decide on its partners, and there is no guarantee of a deal, Gurman noted.

Apple may choose both OpenAI and Google, or opt for a different provider altogether. As Gurman reported in March, AI startup Anthropic is also involved in the discussions.

Apple Joins the AI Race

The next iPhone operating system is expected to feature several new functions based on Apple’s proprietary large language model. However, the company is also seeking partners for chatbot development.

News of the negotiations has resurfaced a month and a half before the WWDC conference, where Apple plans to unveil new AI software and services. The company aims to present its AI features as more seamlessly integrated into devices and offering better privacy protection compared to competitors.

Last year, Apple CEO Tim Cook mentioned his personal use of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, but noted “a number of issues that need to be addressed.”

Cook promised that new AI features would be introduced on Apple platforms “very thoughtfully.”

In April, Apple introduced an AI model for screen context reading.