NEW YORK, June 25: A recent report by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday uncovered discussions between tech giants Apple and Meta regarding a potential collaboration on AI features. Specifically, Meta had expressed interest in integrating its AI chatbot into iOS 18, but it appears Apple has turned down the proposed partnership.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg on Monday, Apple declined Meta's proposal to incorporate its AI chatbot into iOS several months ago. The rejection came amid preliminary discussions between the two companies, which coincided with Apple's exploration of partnerships with OpenAI and Google.

One of the reasons Apple decided against the deal was reportedly due to concerns over Meta's privacy policies. The company has affirmed that it currently has no active plans to integrate Meta's AI chatbot, known as Llama, into its operating system.

During the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, Apple unveiled a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri and its broader AI framework, Apple Intelligence, within iOS 18. When Apple's native AI system cannot address a query, users will have the option to have ChatGPT provide an answer. Apple has hinted at expanding its roster of AI platforms in the future to offer users a range of options.

Apple's decision to collaborate with OpenAI stems from its belief that ChatGPT is currently the premier AI chatbot available. Nonetheless, the company has not ruled out a potential partnership with Google in the future.

Apple Intelligence is slated for release later this year as part of the iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia updates. Initially launching with support for US English on iPhone 15 Pro, iPad, and Mac models featuring the M1 chip or later, additional language options and regional availability will be gradually introduced over time.