Elon Musk has voiced strong concerns over Apple’s newly announced AI partnership with Google, arguing that the deal could give Google excessive influence in the tech industry.
After falling behind rivals in artificial intelligence, Apple recently confirmed that it will collaborate with Google on AI technologies following what it described as a “careful evaluation.” The multi-year agreement was revealed yesterday, but it quickly drew criticism from Musk.
Posting on X, Musk questioned the implications of the partnership, stating that it represents “an unreasonable concentration of power for Google,” especially considering the company already controls major platforms like Android and the Chrome browser.
Many observers see Musk’s comments as more than an objective critique. As the founder of xAI and the creator of the Grok generative AI model launched two years ago, Musk has a direct interest in the rapidly expanding AI market.
Apple, meanwhile, explained that the agreement will allow it to build its Apple Foundation Models using Google’s AI technology. The company also emphasized that its AI features, branded as Apple Intelligence, will primarily operate on-device and through its Private Cloud Compute system, ensuring user privacy remains a top priority.
In the broader AI landscape, Samsung has surged ahead with its Galaxy AI platform, while Apple has faced challenges in delivering competitive AI features. With Google now providing support, Apple may be better positioned to narrow that gap.
One of the earliest results of this partnership is expected to be a significantly more personalized version of Siri, scheduled to launch later this year.
Although specific details of the deal have not been disclosed, earlier reports suggested Apple was prepared to pay Google close to $1 billion annually for a customized version of its Gemini AI model to power Apple Intelligence.
So, is it time to consider a Galaxy AI-powered smartphone?
