Apple has signed a multi-year deal with longtime rival Google to use Google’s Gemini AI models to power future Apple Intelligence features, including the long-awaited AI-powered version of Siri.
Yes, the same companies that have spent decades in a tug-of-war for smartphone dominance are now joining forces in the race for artificial intelligence.
Apple teams up with Google for Apple Intelligence
Under the new partnership, Apple will use Google’s Gemini models as the foundation for its in-house AI systems, known as Apple Foundation Models. These models will underpin the upcoming Apple Intelligence suite, including the more intelligent and capable Siri that the company has been promising since WWDC 2024.
“After careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google’s AI technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple users,” Apple said in a joint statement.
While the alliance might raise eyebrows, Apple was quick to reiterate that its privacy-first approach remains intact. The company stressed that all AI features will continue to run directly on Apple devices or via its Private Cloud Compute system, designed to keep user data secure and inaccessible to anyone, even Apple itself.
The financial details of the deal remain under wraps. Still, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple could be paying around $1 billion annually for access to Gemini’s 1.2-trillion-parameter model, which will serve as the brain behind the reimagined Siri experience.
Interestingly, this shift may complicate Apple’s earlier partnership with OpenAI, which brought ChatGPT into Siri for handling more complex queries. With Gemini now powering the core of Apple’s foundation models, the future of that OpenAI integration looks uncertain.
What does it mean?
This partnership marks a significant turning point for both companies. For Apple, it’s a clear sign that the company is done playing catch-up in the AI race; it’s now choosing to leverage the best tools available, even if they come from a rival.
For Google, it’s a chance to plant Gemini at the heart of millions of iPhones, iPads, and Macs, dramatically expanding its reach beyond Android.
It’s also a subtle shift in Apple’s strategy. Historically, Apple has preferred to build everything in-house, closely guarding its ecosystem. But with AI development moving at breakneck speed, the company seems willing to bend that rule if it means giving Siri the intelligence boost it desperately needs.
Is the revamped Siri finally arriving?
Apple’s revamped Siri was initially expected to arrive with iOS 18.4 but was later delayed. Now, it’s slated for release with iOS 26.4 by late March or early April this year. If Apple delivers on its promise, this could be the most significant leap forward for Siri since its debut back in 2011.
The new Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence and Gemini, is designed to truly understand users, learning from personal context such as emails, messages, and calendar events to deliver more meaningful answers. It’ll be able to respond to questions like, “When is Mum’s flight landing?” or “Play that podcast Jamie recommended.”
Equally transformative will be Siri’s on-screen awareness, which allows it to understand what’s happening on your display and act accordingly. If someone sends you their address, for instance, you’ll see to say, “Add this address to my contacts,” and Siri will handle the rest.
These changes aim to make Siri more personal, proactive, and contextually aware, putting it on par with AI rivals like Gemini and ChatGPT.
For Apple, this collaboration isn’t just about catching up; it’s about redefining what Siri can be. And if all goes as planned, March could finally bring the version of Siri users were promised, one that’s not just smart but truly intelligent.
