Apple is reportedly exploring the integration of additional third-party artificial intelligence (AI) services within its Apple Intelligence framework. The company introduced Apple Intelligence features to select iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices with the iOS 18.2 update in December 2024. This marked a significant shift for Apple, as it allowed Siri to leverage OpenAI’s ChatGPT for certain queries, making it the first-ever system-wide third-party AI integration within Apple’s ecosystem. Now, a new leak suggests that Apple may expand this functionality further by incorporating Google’s AI models into the mix.
According to MacRumors analyst Aaron Perris, Apple appears to be working on integrating Google’s Gemini AI models into its operating system. Perris shared a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter), showing lines of code from the recently released iOS 18.4 beta that hint at this potential partnership. If true, this move would signify Apple’s increasing openness to leveraging multiple AI providers to enhance its devices’ capabilities, giving users more flexibility in choosing their preferred AI assistant.
The leaked code reportedly displays two options under the “Third-party model” section within Apple Intelligence settings. While OpenAI’s ChatGPT was already listed, a new entry for Google has now appeared. However, the leak does not specify which particular Gemini models Apple intends to integrate or what kind of functionality they will offer. It remains unclear whether this integration would be limited to select Siri queries, similar to how ChatGPT is currently utilized, or if it would expand into more system-wide applications.
If Apple follows through with this integration, it could mark a major shift in how AI services are incorporated into its ecosystem. Rather than relying on a single AI provider, Apple seems to be adopting a more flexible approach that allows users to choose from multiple AI models based on their preferences. As iOS 18.4 continues its beta testing phase, more details about this potential collaboration may emerge, offering a clearer picture of how Apple plans to implement third-party AI services in future updates.
