Apple rejects AI partnership with Meta over privacy issues

Apple has declined a potential AI partnership with Meta due to significant privacy concerns, according to Bloomberg. The companies had initial discussions in March about integrating Meta's large language model (LLM), Llama, into iOS 18. However, these talks did not progress further.

Apple has instead chosen to collaborate with OpenAI, planning to integrate ChatGPT into iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia. This integration will allow Siri to defer some requests to the more advanced ChatGPT model. Furthermore, Apple is negotiating with Google to incorporate its Gemini AI model and is also in talks with AI company Anthropic.

The decision to avoid a partnership with Meta was influenced by Apple's stringent privacy policies, which it found incompatible with Meta's practices. Instead, Apple is focused on providing users with various AI model choices while maintaining robust privacy standards.

At the WWDC, Craig Federighi, Apple's software engineering chief, emphasized that Apple aims to offer users a selection of AI models from multiple providers. This strategy highlights Apple's commitment to user privacy and its careful approach to AI integration. Federighi stated that Apple plans to establish deals with several AI providers, ensuring users have diverse options while adhering to strict privacy protocols.

Apple Intelligence is set to launch later this year. Initially available in US English, the feature will be supported by the iPhone 15 Pro (available to purchase at BestBuy), along with iPad and Mac models equipped with the M1 chip or later. Apple plans to gradually extend support to additional languages and regions, enhancing accessibility and functionality for a broader user base.