In December, we shared that Apple was in talks with media giants like NBC News, Condé Nast, and IAC to potentially acquire content worth $50 million for training a generative AI chatbot. While it’s unclear if those deals went through, Apple is now reportedly looking to license millions of images from Shutterstock, a leading provider of stock photos in the U.S.

Apple’s upcoming AI initiative will be revealed at WWDC 2024 on June 10th. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing, teased that the developer conference will be “Absolutely Incredible.” During the keynote, we can expect discussions on new AI features coming to iOS 18, including a possible AI App Store for users to access AI apps. Siri is also due for an AI upgrade to enhance its performance compared to Google Assistant.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that iOS 18’s AI initiative may not include a generative chatbot initially. Instead, Apple might focus on improving user tasks and daily life assistance through Siri and iOS 18 features. However, there could be plans for a generative AI chatbot in the future. Discussions with Google and Open AI may hint at potential partnerships or development of Apple’s own chatbot for iOS 18.

As talks with media firms like Shutterstock continue, it seems Apple is gearing up for significant advancements in its AI capabilities. Stay tuned for more updates on Apple’s exciting journey into the world of artificial intelligence at WWDC 2024!