Apple in talks with Meta on major AI partnership

While Apple and OpenAI have just made their partnership official, other tech giants are eagerly vying for a spot on the Apple Intelligence bandwagon — including some of Apple’s fiercest rivals. The latest is Meta.

According to an exclusive report from the Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Apple is in discussions with Meta to integrate the social media company’s generative AI models into its new Apple Intelligence platform. This potential collaboration could signal a thaw in the historically icy relationship between the two companies, primarily due to privacy concerns and App Store policies.

The Wall Street Journal suggests that Apple is exploring partnerships beyond OpenAI, with Meta, Perplexity, and Anthropic among the names being considered for integration into Apple Intelligence.

“In its hustle to catch up on AI, Apple has been talking with a longtime rival: Meta. Facebook’s parent has held discussions with Apple about integrating Meta Platforms’ META generative AI model into Apple Intelligence, the recently announced AI system for iPhones and other devices, according to people familiar with the matter,” the Walls Street Journal reported.

This move is particularly surprising given the longstanding rivalry between Apple and Meta. If these partnerships materialize, it would allow AI companies to offer premium subscriptions through Apple devices, with Apple taking a cut of the revenue. This was hinted at by Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

Why It Matters

This potential partnership represents a significant shift in the tech landscape, indicating that the AI revolution might be the catalyst for unprecedented collaboration among rivals. For Apple, incorporating a diverse array of AI models enhances user experience by offering the best possible tools for various tasks. For Meta, this partnership could provide a substantial new distribution channel for its AI technologies.

Notably, Apple is also in discussions with AI startup Anthropic to integrate its generative AI into Apple Intelligence, according to sources cited by the Journal. Both Meta and Anthropic declined to comment on the ongoing talks, and Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comments.

These discussions, while still in the early stages, highlight Apple’s aggressive strategy to secure a wide range of AI partnerships. Should these deals come to fruition, AI companies could significantly expand their reach by selling premium subscriptions through Apple’s ecosystem.

Meanwhile, Apple’s AI strategy appears to be all-encompassing, as it seeks to incorporate technology from multiple AI firms. The company is also rumored to be in talks with long-time search partner Alphabet’s Google, as well as other AI companies worldwide, including in China, where OpenAI’s ChatGPT is banned.

Reuters also reported that AI search startup Perplexity is also in talks with Apple about bringing its generative AI technology to Apple Intelligence, adding another potential player to Apple’s AI roster.

Earlier this month at WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled its comprehensive AI strategy, launching “Apple Intelligence” which integrates AI seamlessly across its suite of apps, including Siri. The event also marked the confirmation of Apple’s partnership with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to the iPhone and other Apple devices, setting the stage for a new era of AI-driven user experiences.