When AIM wrote about a possible partnership between OpenAI and Apple in November last year, little did we know it would happen this soon. 

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple has rekindled discussions with OpenAI to integrate AI functionalities into iOS 18 (iPhone 16). 

At the same time, the company is aggressively developing its own extensive language models for certain iOS 18 features. However, as the report stated, its negotiations with OpenAI primarily focus on a “chatbot/search component”. 

Andrew Curran, a professor at Wesleyan University, explained in his post that Apple was working on smaller local models but also wants a large model to run under iOS 18 on the iPhone. He said that the company also held discussions with Anthropic and Google, and is renewing negotiations with OpenAI. 

In 2023, reports indicated that Apple invested significantly in research and development to improve Siri’s conversational skills. They were concurrently developing various AI models within different teams, emphasising image, language, and multimodal capabilities. Additionally, Apple was in the testing phase for their own AI chatbot.

Reports from the past emerged during Apple’s development of its proprietary chatbot, internally dubbed “Apple GPT” by its workforce.

Apple Bringing AI to Siri

Integrating this GPT-like technology into Apple’s infrastructure would essentially involve Siri. Despite numerous announcements, Siri has remained relatively stagnant since its inception. Developers have endeavoured to infuse ChatGPT functionalities into Siri, and now, Apple can seamlessly incorporate them.

The primary capabilities of a GenAI-driven Siri will probably stem from Apple’s in-house models operating on the device, while supplementary functionalities such as generating images and crafting long-form text may be sourced from third-party entities like OpenAI, Baidu, or Google.

In a YouTube video, Apple hints that its vision for Siri goes beyond improving conversation skills. Rumours suggest a deep integration with third-party apps, enabling Siri to understand and respond to a wider range of user queries. 

This could simplify developers’ efforts to incorporate their preferred model into an app. Siri may soon be able to handle various tasks, enhancing its role as an essential tool in our digital lives. 

Additionally, customisation is a frontier where Siri is expected to shine. Drawing inspiration from ChatGPT’s adaptability, Apple intends to allow users to personalise Siri’s personality, tailoring responses to match their individual styles and preferences, thereby enhancing user interactions.

At WWDC, Apple revealed that it is experimenting with an internal chatbot and advancing Siri with generative AI. The upgraded Siri boasts natural conversation abilities and enhanced user personalisation. According to Mark Gurman, a significant change will be removing “Hey” from “Hey Siri”.

Apple next with open AI

Although Apple wasn’t the pioneer, other smartphones led by Nothing, have embraced ChatGPT and advanced its features. Carl Pei, the CEO of Nothing, said “ChatGPT’s quick settings and Nothing OS deliver a delightful user experience.”

The latest OS 2.5.5 update for Nothing Phone (2) has now integrated ChatGPT, offering several new features including, a new gesture option in Nothing X to initiate voice conversations with ChatGPT for Nothing Ear & Nothing Ear (a). 

New ChatGPT widgets enable launching in various modes directly from the home screen. A button on the screenshot and clipboard pop-up allows for quick content pasting into a new ChatGPT conversation.

A few months ago, Samsung unveiled its new Galaxy S24 series, which includes the Samsung Galaxy S24, S24 Plus, and S24 Ultra, integrating AI into their features. The company emphasised the new AI capabilities of the smartphones, branding it as Galaxy AI.

Apple has been in talks with various tech giants, such as OpenAI and Google Gemini, to integrate generative AI into its upcoming iPhone series. As anticipation builds for the effectiveness of this upgrade, all eyes are on Apple as we approach WWDC 2024. 

Latest reports say, Apple has attracted numerous artificial intelligence experts from Google and established a covert European laboratory in Zurich, as the tech behemoth assembles a formidable team to compete with rivals in pioneering new AI models and products.

This venture into equipping Siri with generative AI capabilities represents a bold step into the future of virtual assistance, promising enhanced utility, personalisation, and privacy. The tech community eagerly awaits Siri’s transformation into a more intelligent, versatile, and personalised assistant.