Siri is getting a major face-lift this year with the release of iOS 18, and one of the most significant changes it will go through is its integration with ChatGPT. Apple partnered with OpenAI to bring its generative AI technology to the iPhone, but it was reported that the company is not paying anything other than exposure. However, it is now being reported that Apple is interested in investing in OpenAI and its generative AI technology, which could mean that the company has big plans for the future.
Apple's plans to invest in OpenAI could stretch far beyond standard AI features, as a subscription-based Apple Intelligence service could be in the works
According to The Wall Street Journal and its sources familiar with the matter, Apple plans to invest in OpenAI ahead of the iOS 18 release, which will feature ChatGPT integration. Apple's implementation of ChatGPT does not bring native support for the technology as requests are sent to OpenAI for processing, and the entire process does not happen on the device. Instead, the technology is implemented via the cloud-based approach, which is one of the reasons why Apple decided to pay the company with exposure.
The report did not indicate the amount of money Apple plans to invest in OpenAI, but based on the latest fundraising round, OpenAI is valued at $100 billion. While concrete details are not available at this stage, we suspect Apple will invest a hefty amount to compete against Microsoft, which would also use the same generative AI technology in its products. However, the implementation could be widely different. Additionally, Apple could set varying parameters compared to the competition to keep the technology according to its preferences.
Apple will release iOS 18 with ChatGPT integration in Siri and the update will be available to all users later this year. While Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 16 lineup and iOS 18 next month, Apple Intelligence and the new Siri experience will not be available at launch. The company has already seeded the third developer beta of iOS 18.1, which carries the necessary Apple Intelligence features, but it, too, does not feature support for Siri with ChatGPT.
Apple is also working on additional AI models that will be incorporated into future versions of iOS and other software updates. Apple investing in OpenAI makes a lot of sense as it would allow the company to develop features to charge a subscription. It was recently reported that the company has three years to prepare forward-facing AI features if it wants users to pay for a monthly subscription. Do you think Apple Intelligence will remain a free service in the coming years?
About the author: Ali Salman is a technology reporter for Wccftech mobile section with a specialized focus on Apple and the intellectual property that drives mobile innovation. He has cultivated a unique expertise in analyzing and deconstructing complex technology patents, translating dense legal and technical documents into clear, insightful reports on future products.
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