Additionally information: Apple is not speaking to Meta about an AI deal, as a result of Meta is a fierce rival.
Which one in all these tales is true? Technically, it is attainable for each of them to be appropriate.
My hunch, although, is that the second is truthier: Apple and Meta aren’t doing something collectively on AI — or anything — anytime quickly.
Some background: On Sunday, The Wall Road Journal printed a report that stated Meta and Apple had “held discussions” about connecting Apple’s gadgets to Meta’s AI engine, just like a deal it has already struck with OpenAI.
The important thing right here is the tense: The Journal stated the 2 firms had talked, which is fairly noteworthy, provided that they have been preventing for years. However the paper did not give any sense of whether or not these talks have been ongoing or headed anyplace.
Then on Monday, Bloomberg reported its personal model of the story: Sure, the 2 firms had talked — however that was months in the past, and nothing’s taking place or going to occur.
Not solely that, however individuals at Tim Prepare dinner’s firm wished to be clear about their stance re: Mark Zuckerberg’s operation, telling Bloomberg (anonymously) that Apple would not work with Meta “partly as a result of it does not see that firm’s privateness practices as stringent sufficient.” Zing!
It is not unattainable to stroll again that messaging. Apple’s clear technique right here is to behave as a gatekeeper between its customers and numerous AI firms. And it is attainable that sooner or later Meta will probably be a kind of firms, in the identical method that Apple clients use iPhones to entry Fb, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
Apple reps have not responded to a request for remark, and Meta declined to remark. However Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist, reposted the Bloomberg story to Threads on Tuesday and quipped, “Their loss.”
So that is the what-does-it-all-mean angle glad: There’s in all probability not lots there.
However for those who’re an individual who will get a kick out of feuds (raises hand), then this story has some bonus pettiness: Not solely will we get to look at Apple individuals (anonymously) dump on Meta individuals, we get to look at the usually civil tech press dump on one another’s reporting. Enjoyable!