Apple is reportedly searching for a major tech partner to enhance its struggling artificial intelligence (AI) offerings, specifically focusing on improving the capabilities of the iPhone.
According to Bloomberg’s report, Apple is engaged in advanced discussions with OpenAI to further integrate generative AI technologies into iOS. However, previous reports suggest that Apple is also exploring potential cloud partnerships with Google.
Apple’s AI endeavors have seemingly lost momentum in recent years. While the company’s closed approach to AI development once hinted at hidden innovations, the iPhone, its flagship product, now appears to be falling behind competitors that prioritize AI.
The transition from internal development to external collaborations may have been foreshadowed in May 2022 when Ian Goodfellow, renowned as the “GANfather” for his AI contributions, resigned as director of machine learning due to Apple’s return-to-office policy.
Since Goodfellow’s departure, Apple has remained active in the AI sector. The company recently released eight open-source large language models, complete with code and training logs. However, these models are unlikely to rival the performance of closed models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
With this in mind, Apple is likely aiming to solidify its generative AI partnerships ahead of its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. The WWDC event traditionally showcases Apple’s most significant and impactful products, and 2024 has been relatively quiet for the company so far.
In contrast, Microsoft, Apple’s main competitor, has reaped significant financial benefits since partnering with AI sector leader OpenAI. Microsoft currently holds the title of the world’s most valuable company by market capitalization, with a total value of $3.019 trillion, while Apple follows closely behind at $2.614 trillion.
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