Apple is in talks to invest in OpenAI, boosting funding in the company following its partnership with the ChatGPT maker on Apple Intelligence. The leading tech giant would join a multibillion-dollar funding round alongside Microsoft and Thrive Capital, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The report did not indicate how much money Apple would be investing in OpenAI. Nor did it provide any additional details about the discussions. However, this latest fundraising round would value the ChatGPT maker above $100 billion, according to the WSJ. The Wall Street Journal reported that venture capital firm Thrive Capital is leading the round of investments.
Apple Expands Partnership with OpenAI with Multi-million Investment
Apple previously announced that ChatGPT integration is coming to Siri on iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia before the end of the year. The partnership means that Apple’s digital assistant, Siri, will be given the generative AI capabilities of the OpenAI system. Moreover, that feature will be available at no cost to iPhone users as part of an iOS 18 update available later this year. The development will allow Apple to increase its competition in the generative AI space. Apple Intelligence features started rolling out to developers for testing in the iOS 18.1 beta last month, but ChatGPT integration is not available yet.
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Despite Apple’s goal to remain a neutral partner in the AI realm, its investment in OpenAI is a significant development. In the past, Apple hasn’t invested in many startups. Apple has made some investments in manufacturing partners, in part to secure a supply of components for its devices. However, ChatGPT is a rare anomaly, due to its rapid growth in the last several years. Furthermore, as AI continues to capture the attention of investors and consumers, Apple is trying to solidify its mark further in the AI world. Its partnership with OpenAI earlier this year was a big first step, and the latest investment proposal is another significant one.
Apple is holding an event next month where it will likely launch its next-generation iPhones. New AI tools are also expected to be a feature of the devices, corresponding with the teases at this past summer’s Apple event.
