Is a ≤ i?

Determine whether the almost disjointness number a is less than or equal to the independence number i in ZFC, i.e., establish or refute a ≤ i.

Background

The cardinal a is the least size of a maximal almost disjoint family on ω, and i is the least size of a maximal independent family in P(ω). Many inequalities among classical cardinal characteristics are known and summarized in Figure manyinv.pdf, but the relationship between a and i is not settled.

This question asks for a general ZFC determination of whether a is bounded above by i.