Key Takeaways
- Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration to power Apple’s AI features, including a more personalized Siri, using Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology.
- The new system, called World Knowledge Answers, is expected to create a search experience on Apple devices and summarize web searches, and may also be added to Safari and Spotlight.
- Google’s Gemini model has been praised as better than OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and the company is challenging OpenAI’s chatbot domination and Nvidia’s hold over AI chips.
- Apple’s future as a worthy competitor in the AI space is riding on the performance and reception of its AI-enhanced Siri, which is expected to launch later this year.
Introduction to Apple’s AI-Powered Revamp
Apple’s AI-powered revamp of Siri is finally set to launch later this year, and the company has officially chosen Google’s Gemini to power it. As stated in a joint statement by Google and Apple, "Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology." This collaboration is expected to bring a more personalized Siri experience to Apple users, and will help power future Apple Intelligence features.
The Partnership Between Apple and Google
The partnership between Apple and Google is a significant one, with Google providing the technology to power Apple’s AI features. However, Apple’s AI features will continue to run on Private Cloud Compute, Apple’s own secure cloud-based system. This partnership is a result of Apple’s efforts to catch up with its competitors in the AI space, after the company’s AI-enhanced Siri was delayed and failed to meet expectations. As reported by Bloomberg, Apple was looking to pay Google around $1 billion annually for a custom Gemini model, after weighing models from OpenAI and Anthropic.
Google’s Dominance in the AI Field
Google is proving itself to be a force to be reckoned with in the AI field. The company’s Gemini model has been praised as better than OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Google is challenging OpenAI’s chatbot domination and Nvidia’s hold over AI chips. The company’s tensor processing units are also a significant development in the AI field. As a result of its growing dominance in the AI field, Google became the fourth company to breach the $4 trillion market value benchmark, only four months after it hit $3 trillion.
Apple’s Struggles in the AI Space
In contrast, Apple has not been hitting the same highs in artificial intelligence. The company announced Apple Intelligence, its AI initiatives that include the AI-enhanced Siri, in 2024. However, the AI-enhanced Siri was delayed, and Apple had to push the reveal back at the last minute. This delay reportedly caused an internal rift at the company, led to an executive shakeup, and even a federal lawsuit accusing the company of false advertising. As CEO Tim Cook admitted, "Apple must do this. Apple will do this. This is sort of ours to grab," and called the AI revolution "as big or bigger" than the internet.
The Future of Apple’s AI Initiatives
The future of Apple’s AI initiatives is riding on the performance and reception of its AI-enhanced Siri, which is expected to launch later this year. As Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi promised, the new and renewed LLM Siri is getting "a much bigger upgrade than we envisioned." With the help of Google, perhaps one of the hottest names in AI right now, Apple is hoping to finally catch up with its competitors in the AI space. However, as the company’s track record of overpromising has shown, it remains to be seen whether Apple will be able to deliver on its promises and make a significant impact in the AI field. As the company’s CEO Tim Cook said, "This is sort of ours to grab," and it will be interesting to see if Apple can finally grab the opportunity and make a significant impact in the AI space.
https://gizmodo.com/apple-taps-google-gemini-to-give-siri-an-ai-glow-up-2000709013