Apple Explores New AI Partnership with Meta to Enhance Siri

Apple is advancing its AI initiatives by seeking collaborations with various partners.

Recently, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence and announced a partnership with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into an updated version of Siri. According to the Wall Street Journal, Apple is also in discussions with Meta, the parent company of Facebook, for a similar collaboration.

These discussions are still in progress and have not been finalized. Meta declined to comment, and Apple has yet to respond to inquiries.

Apple's approach to AI, as observed by Sarah Perez, is focused on practical applications rather than dramatic changes. By integrating AI-powered features such as writing suggestions and custom emojis into its current products, Apple aims to promote AI adoption in a practical manner. This strategy might be more effective for mainstream AI integration. Moreover, forming partnerships can help Apple expand its AI capabilities beyond its in-house technology.

Collaborating with Meta could enable Apple to diversify its partnerships and affirm the value of Meta's generative AI technology. The Wall Street Journal reports that Apple is not offering financial compensation for these partnerships. Instead, Apple offers distribution opportunities, allowing AI partners to sell premium subscriptions.

Elon Musk, who co-founded OpenAI and now competes with his startup xAI, has expressed concerns about ChatGPT’s integration with Apple’s systems, even threatening to ban Apple devices from his companies. However, Apple has assured that it will seek user consent before sharing any data with ChatGPT. A similar approach is expected for any potential integration with Meta.

Additionally, Apple announced that its Apple Intelligence technology will be included in the upcoming versions of its operating systems, such as iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, later this year. However, due to the EU's Digital Markets Act aimed at fostering competition in digital markets, Apple will withhold this technology from the European Union. Features like iPhone Mirroring and SharePlay Screen Sharing will also be restricted from the EU market.