Google Gemini AI Could be on iOS 19

Google’s Gemini is poised to become the dominant mobile AI assistant by the end of the year, as per its CEO, set to be featured on nearly every smartphone worldwide.

Sundar Pichai has been discussing his company’s AI plans in court, revealing that Gemini could be included in iOS 19 as an AI option upon its release later this year.

Considering Gemini’s current status as the leading AI assistant on Android, the world’s largest OS (let alone mobile OS), its addition to iOS would give Google’s AI a significant advantage.

Google’s main competitor, ChatGPT, is already partially integrated into Apple Intelligence features on iOS 18, but it lacks presence on Android unless the ChatGPT app is downloaded.

Why Gemini is almost certainly coming to iOS

Pichai claims to have engaged in several discussions with his Apple counterpart, Tim Cook, throughout 2024, with a potential AI agreement expected to be reached by mid-2025.

Code discovered in the iOS 18.4 beta earlier this year seems to support the integration of Gemini into iOS.

While it may seem like an unusual partnership given Apple’s substantial investment in its own AI efforts, there are a few key points to consider here.

As reported by Bloomberg, Apple has historically been pragmatic in areas where Google possesses unparalleled expertise. YouTube was preinstalled on early iPhone models, and Google previously provided the iPhone’s mapping solution before Apple Maps was introduced in 2012.

One of the most significant arrangements between the two companies is Apple’s agreement with Google for the latter to serve as the default search engine on Safari – a deal reportedly worth billions of dollars annually.

Apple Intelligence isn’t looking too smart

The potential agreement in the realm of AI indicates that Google has already established a dominant position in this emerging industry, while Apple lags behind.

Apple is expected to unveil its revamped AI Siri with iOS 19, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 17. Reports of internal discord and mismanagement may explain why Apple’s major AI push stalled after the iPhone 16 launch.

It appears that Google is prepared to step in and provide iOS with much-needed intelligence.