Apple has formed a multi-year partnership with Google to boost the iPhone maker’s next generation of AI models.
Under the new agreement, the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology.
Apple Foundation Models are Apple’s family of largescale AI models that power Apple Intelligence, on device generative features, and developer tools across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
The new models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalised Siri coming this year, the firms confirmed in a statement.
Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s privacy standards.The tech giant added that the decision was made after “careful consideration,” with the tech giant determining that Google’s AI technology provides the most efficient foundation for its AI models whilst offering the best user experience.
According to experts, the move could highlight Apple’s growing dependence on other companies after years of implementing a cautious approach whereby it has largely created its own AI tools.
“By outsourcing the foundational layer of its AI to Google, Apple is effectively admitting that its internal efforts couldn’t compete with Google’s Gemini in terms of capability and scale in the short term,” IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo told the BBC.
He added that while the move represents a pragmatic strategy for Apple, it also marks “a departure from its historical approach to development.”
“Apple always preferred to own every layer of its technology,” he said, adding that doing so gave the company an edge against their competitors.
Tech analyst Paolo Pescatore told the BBC that Apple’s move is likely to be welcomed by users.
In July last year, it was reported that Apple was exploring using AI technology from Anthropic or OpenAI to power a new version of Siri, potentially abandoning its own in-house models in what would represent a significant strategic shift for the iPhone maker.
The company held discussions with both AI firms about using their large language models for Siri, requesting custom versions that could run on Apple’s cloud infrastructure for testing, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg said at the time.
In 2024, the giant also invested in OpenAI.
