Apple is reportedly in “active negotiations” to license Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) models to power some new iPhone software features that will be released this year. Apple has also held conversations with OpenAI about using its artificial intelligence platform, according to Bloomberg.

If Apple does negotiate a deal with Google, it will build on their existing search agreement, in which Google paid Apple billions of dollars annually to make its search engine the default option in its Safari browser. In addition, Apple received 36% of all search ad income generated by Google through Safari.

Gemini has already been implemented in Samsung Galaxy S24 series smartphones and Google Pixel 8 devices.

The deal would provide Gemini with billions of potential users, but it could also indicate that Apple is lagging behind in AI development. According to the report, collaboration might subject both businesses to increased attention from antitrust officials.

The company has been testing AI elements for its iOS 18 software as well as internal operations software, according to the report, although they will be limited to features that reside on its devices rather than on the cloud.

Apple has also been exploring its own large language model, Ajax, as well as a chatbot known as Apple GPT; however, the technology isn’t up to par with its competitors’ capabilities, Bloomberg reported.

Apple remains the leading buyer of AI and machine learning companies, acquiring roughly twice as many as Meta and Microsoft. Most recently, it acquired Canadian firm DarwinAI, which focuses on technology that makes AI systems smaller and faster.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has promised to “break new ground” in generative AI this year, and used the company’s annual shareholders meeting to hint at new capabilities that are expected to be presented at the company’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.