Google’s Gemini May Land on iPhones This Year

AI Heavyweights Eye Unlikely Alliance

In a surprising turn, Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed during federal court testimony that the company is in “active conversations” with Apple to bring its Gemini AI models to the iPhone. The potential partnership could unfold as early as this year, marking a major shift in the AI competitive landscape. If the deal goes through, it would bring Google’s powerful generative AI to millions of iOS users, while simultaneously extending Google’s reach beyond Android. The move also signals Apple’s increasing urgency to bolster its AI capabilities as rivals push ahead.

Apple’s AI Strategy Takes a Detour

Apple has historically preferred to develop its core technologies in-house, but its generative AI efforts have lagged behind. Reports suggest Apple is evaluating multiple large language models—including Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT—to potentially power some iOS functionalities. Pichai’s comments hint that Google may be the front-runner in this race. A deal with Google would let Apple accelerate its AI rollout without immediately shouldering the cloud infrastructure costs or AI safety responsibilities.

A Mutually Beneficial Power Play

The potential tie-up could benefit both tech giants in different ways: Google gets its AI in front of an enormous user base, and Apple gains a ready-to-deploy generative engine. However, the idea of Google’s Gemini on iPhones might raise competitive and antitrust concerns, especially as both companies already share a controversial default search deal. If finalized, the partnership may reshape more than just smartphone software—it could redefine alliances in the AI arms race.