Apple, Meta held discussions to add Llama Gen AI to iOS 18, likely to be added soon

Apple is reportedly in discussions with Meta to integrate the social media giant’s generative artificial intelligence technology into its devices.

For the past six months, there has been much speculation about how Apple will implement AI on the iPhone and Mac. The nature of Apple Intelligence has been a topic of debate, with rumours ranging from direct integration to AI App Stores.

According to a recent report, Apple has been negotiating with Meta regarding generative AI technology. This move isn’t entirely unexpected, as previous rumours and statements from Apple’s Craig Federighi have indicated that Apple is considering partnerships with multiple companies to offer a variety of AI options to its users.

Meta is now the fifth major tech company linked to potential AI integration with Apple’s devices. OpenAI is the primary name associated with this effort, with ChatGPT 4o expected to be an option in iOS 18. Google has also been mentioned as a possible partner, along with Anthropic and Perplexity, although these mentions have been less frequent.

The potential deal with Meta might mirror Apple’s reported arrangement with OpenAI. Apple is allegedly not looking to pay for AI integrations. Instead, it would allow Meta or any approved AI vendor to sell subscriptions to their AI services through iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. This model could provide users with more choices while keeping costs down for Apple.

However, the status of the negotiations remains uncertain. According to a Sunday report by the Wall Street Journal, the deal with Meta is far from finalized and could still fall through. It seems likely that Apple is handling AI providers similarly to how it deals with hardware component suppliers.

By engaging multiple providers, Apple can offer a wider range of options to its users while maintaining competitive costs.

Apple Intelligence testing is set to begin in the summer of 2024. The exact start date and the completeness of the initial testing versions are still unknown.

In summary, Apple is actively exploring partnerships with various AI companies, including Meta, to enhance its AI capabilities on iPhones and Macs.

While the details of these negotiations are still unfolding, Apple’s strategy appears to be aimed at providing more choices to consumers and managing costs effectively. As we await further developments, it’s clear that Apple is positioning itself to integrate cutting-edge AI technology into its ecosystem in innovative ways.

(With inputs from agencies)