Apple could add Google Gemini to iOS this fall

If you thought Apple was bet-the-farm married to OpenAI for its device-level AI features, think again.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is gearing up to announce at least one other major AI partnership this fall: integrating Google's Gemini.

Opening the gates to Gemini

OpenAI got the big stage reveal, but Gemini has been swirling around the iOS 18 rumor mill just as long.

Shortly after the WWDC keynote wrapped, Apple software chief Craig Federighi practically gave the game away, openly hinting at a potential deal with Google.

Gurman reports that Anthropic is also floating around Cupertino's radar, and an integration could happen down the line if not this fall. Meta, meanwhile, tried to get in on the action but reportedly got kicked to the curb quickly because Apple felt its Llama chatbot just wasn't good enough.

Apple Intelligence itself will only roll out as an initial beta this fall, locked exclusively to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max for now.

Turning AI into a direct cash machine

Apple doesn't just want AI to push new hardware upgrades. The company reportedly wants it to be a direct profit stream.

In the short term, that means pocketing the classic App Store cut whenever a user signs up for a partner's paid chatbot subscription via an in-app purchase.

Down the road, Gurman suggests Apple could eventually launch subscription-only features within Apple Intelligence itself, gating advanced functionality behind a paywall.

Bringing in Google and others gives Apple a reliable stopgap while it slowly bakes its own generative models.

Why it matters

We think this multi-partner strategy is classic Apple at its most calculating. Instead of staking its brand reputation solely on OpenAI, Apple turns iOS into an AI aggregator platform.

For everyday users, more choice is a win. If you prefer Google's answers over ChatGPT, you won't be trapped. That said, with Apple Intelligence launching only in beta on top-tier phones, nobody should rush out to buy an iPhone 15 Pro just for this initial rollout.

For the broader industry, it sends a blunt message to frontier lab leaders: Apple will not let any single AI company become the default interface of mobile computing. By treating OpenAI, Google, and potentially Anthropic as swappable modular providers, Apple retains full control of the user experience while collecting a toll on every in-app subscription.