- Apple is working on expanding its satellite capabilities for iPhones.
- The company is working to add satellite support for Apple Maps, enable image sharing via Messages, and make satellite connectivity natural to use.
- Apple could also open up its satellite API for third-party apps at some point.
Apple is reportedly working on new satellite features, including adding support for Apple Maps navigation without an internet connection. You would also be able to add images to satellite messages, use the satellite features without pointing the phone to the sky, and even opening up the API for third-party apps.
The Cupertino giant introduced Emergency SOS via satellite with the iPhone 14 , allowing limited messaging when users were out of network coverage. Now, the company is planning to expand the feature list, making satellite connectivity accessible for everyone .
Apple Plans to Open Up Satellite Features for Third-Party Apps
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is adding satellite capability to Apple Maps . This would allow users to navigate even when there is no cellular network. Apple is also upgrading satellite messaging by adding the ability to send images , which might be handy if you are unable to specify your location or require medical care.
Image Credit: Apple
Gurman also stated that Apple is working to allow a more “natural” way to use its satellite services , eliminating the need to point your iPhone toward the sky.
The highlight of Gurman’s report is that Apple will soon open up APIs to allow third-party apps to integrate these satellite services. This would open up several possibilities, even allowing you to text from your preferred chat apps.
To make these features and services come to fruition, Apple is helping its satellite partner, Globstar, to improve their infrastructure. Some of these services will be free, while more premium features could warrant a fee that users will have to pay to their respective carriers or Apple. All this is still in development, and it could be years before we see these services become available for everyone.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
Add new comment
Name
Email ID
Δ
- Apple is close to finalizing a $1 billion deal with Google to use Gemini to power the next-gen Siri.
- It will use a custom version of Gemini AI, which will be used temporarily until Apple develops its own powerful AI model.
- The new AI-powered Siri is slated to launch sometime next spring.
Apple is reportedly set to close an estimated $1 billion annual deal with its rival, Google, to use a custom version of the Gemini AI model to power the next version of Siri. Apple is lagging behind major companies in the AI race so this might help the Cupertino giant to make a comeback.
Apple Turns to Gemini to Power Its AI-Powered Siri
This detail comes from Bloomberg , which reports that Apple is turning to Google’s Gemini as a temporary solution until its own AI model catches up with the rest of the industry. Once ready, it will be used to power a host of new Apple Intelligence features which the company has in the pipeline.
For context, the custom version of Google’s Gemini AI model has about 1.2 trillion parameters , which far exceeds Apple’s current cloud-based AI model which are trained on 150 billion parameters. This shows that Gemini can handle far complex tasks and commands compared to Apple’s in-house model.
Image Credit: Beebom
Typically, the Cupertino Giant prefers to make things on its own, but it has been lagging in the AI race behind several major companies and startups. Apple had plans to acquire Perplexity , and even held talks with OpenAI , but it seems like Gemini is the best fit the company has found for its AI-powered Siri , which is scheduled to come out sometime next spring.
However, there is still some time till then, and Apple’s plan could still change if the deal doesn’t go through.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
Add new comment
Name
Email ID
Δ
- Apple and Google have officially confirmed their team-up for the next-gen Siri AI.
- The Cupertino Giant will be using Google’s Gemini for a more personalized Siri model as well as Apple Intelligence features.
- We can expect the next-gen Siri to come out with iOS 26.4, sometime in March or April.
Apple has officially confirmed joining forces with Google to use its Gemini AI model to power the next-generation Siri. It will offer a more personalized experience and will be coming out with the iOS 26.4 update. Apple also plans to leverage Gemini’s capabilities for other Apple Intelligence features as well, later down the line.
The Next-Gen Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI
Apple officially confirmed that it will be partnering with Google in a statement to CNBC . Here’s what it stated, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”
Later, Google also shared a post on X confirming the tie-up, “Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”
Image Credit: X/@NewsFromGoogle
Both statements clearly mention that the Cupertino Giant will be using Gemini to power its assistant Siri. This was already rumored, as Apple’s attempts to acquire Perplexity went nowhere. With Gemini, Siri will get a major AI update . It will be able to handle more nuanced conversations and provide better results. Something long-time Apple users have been asking for years.
The next-gen Siri will arrive with the iOS 26.4 update, which will launch sometime in March or April. And it is only going to be available for Apple Intelligence-supported devices .
Something else worth noting is how Google’s statement mentions that Gemini will power Apple Intelligence features. This leads us to believe that Apple could use Gemini’s multi-modal capabilities for its Writings tools , Image Playground , and Message summaries, too.
Elon Musk Not Happy With Apple and Google Tie Up
xAI CEO Elon Musk also responded to Google’s announcement post on X, sharing his thoughts on the matter by saying, “This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome.” Though we don’t expect either Apple or Google to respond to Elon, we will update the situation as it progresses.
It is worth noting that xAI is the company behind Grok, which is in hot water currently due to its inappropriate image generation fiasco , and has been getting backlash from multiple news outlets, X users, and even government authorities.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
Add new comment
Name
Email ID
Δ
