Apple partners with OpenAI

Apple is partnering with OpenAI to put ChatGPT into Siri, the company announced at its WWDC 2024 keynote on Monday.

ChatGPT will be available for free in iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia later this year without an account, and Apple says that user queries won’t be logged. The popular chatbot will also be integrated into Apple’s systemwide writing tools. In addition, paid ChatGPT subscribers will be able to link their accounts to access premium features from OpenAI within Apple’s operating systems.

The long-awaited partnership emerges as Apple strives to integrate AI features that rival those of other big tech companies. Apple had been in discussions with both Google and OpenAI to incorporate their AI technology into its operating systems. Ultimately, it was OpenAI that secured the deal.

“We’re excited to partner with Apple to bring ChatGPT to their users in a new way,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a statement shared with The Verge. “Apple shares our commitment to safety and innovation, and this partnership aligns with OpenAI’s mission to make advanced AI accessible to everyone. Together with Apple, we’re making it easier for people to benefit from what AI can offer.”

A spokesperson for OpenAI declined to comment further on deal terms.

There has been speculation that the recent launch of OpenAI’s GPT-4o — which contains a voice assistant criticized for sounding uncannily like Scarlett Johansson in the movie Her — was intended to showcase how OpenAI’s technology could enhance Siri. Today, Apple confirmed that GPT-4o will be the model powering ChatGPT in Apple devices when iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia are made available later this year.

Update, June 10th: Added comment from Sam Altman and that OpenAI declined to comment on deal terms with Apple.

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