Apple is reportedly seeking a major tech partner to bolster its struggling artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, particularly to enhance iPhone performance. Sources cited in a Bloomberg report suggest that Apple is in advanced talks with OpenAI to further integrate generative AI technology into iOS.
While previous reports hinted at Google as another potential cloud partner for Apple, the Cupertino-based company's AI ambitions appear to have dwindled in recent years. Despite Apple's past emphasis on internal AI development, its flagship iPhone is now showing signs of lagging behind competitors that prioritize AI.
The shift from internal development to external collaboration was highlighted in May 2022 when Ian Goodfellow, recognized as the “Father of GANs” for his AI contributions, resigned as Apple's director of machine learning. Following Goodfellow's departure, Apple has focused on artificial intelligence, releasing a series of open-source large-scale language models.
Although Apple's release of these models demonstrates continued commitment to AI and machine learning, they may not match the performance of closed models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini. Thus, Apple appears to be finalizing its generative AI partnerships ahead of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
The WWDC event serves as a platform for showcasing Apple's significant products, and 2024 has been relatively quiet for the company thus far. Meanwhile, Microsoft, Apple's primary rival, has seen considerable success since partnering with AI industry leader OpenAI. Microsoft currently holds the title of the world's most valuable company, with a market capitalization of $3.019 trillion, while Apple ranks second with $2.614 trillion.
