Apple Strikes $1 Billion Annual Deal with Google to Power Next-Generation Siri with Custom Gemini AI

Apple nears deal to pay Google $1B annually to power new Siri, report says

Apple is nearing a deal with Google that would see the iPhone maker pay the tech giant roughly $1 billion a year for a custom version of Google's Gemini AI model to power its overhaul of Siri, according to a new report from Bloomberg. The move is a big one for Apple, which has traditionally relied on its own technology but plans to use Google's model as a temporary solution until its own AI becomes powerful enough, including to power a slate of upcoming features for the voice assistant. The custom AI model's 1.2 trillion parameters -- a measure of the software's complexity and capability -- would far exceed the level of Apple's current models. For context, the current cloud-based version of Apple Intelligence uses 150 billion parameters, meaning Google's model would be roughly eight times more complex. Apple had also considered using AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic earlier this year. After testing models from all three companies, Apple chose to move forward with Google. According to Bloomberg, the overhauled Siri is expected to launch next spring. However, since the launch is still months away, plans for the revamp could change.

Tim Cook says Apple is open to M&A on the AI front

Apple CEO Tim Cook signaled to investors the company is still open to acquisitions and partnerships to move things forward on the AI front. The comments were made this week during the company's Q4 2025 earnings call. The exec also offered a brief update about Apple's next-generation, AI-powered Siri, saying the service was still on track to launch in 2026. "We're making good progress on it, and as we've shared, we expect to release it next year," Cook said during his opening remarks. One analyst on the call also asked Cook if Apple was still pursuing a three-pronged approach when it came to the development of its personalized AI -- meaning a combination of in-house Apple foundation models, partnerships with third-party LLM providers, and acquisitions. Cook responded that Apple was still open to the latter, noting the company continually surveils the market on M&A and is "open to pursuing M&A if we think that it will advance our roadmap." In a pre-earnings interview with CNBC, Cook noted that Apple was preparing to announce more AI partnerships like the one it has with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri and Apple Intelligence. "Our intention is to integrate with more people over time," Cook told the outlet. On the earnings call, Cook also talked about how Apple creates foundation models, ships them on devices, and uses them in Private Cloud Compute, its cloud intelligence system designed specifically for private AI processing. Cook shared later in the call that Apple is already using its Private Cloud Compute technology for a number of Siri queries and is continuing to build out that infrastructure. "In fact, the manufacturing plant that makes the servers used for Apple Intelligence just started manufacturing in Houston a few weeks ago, and we've got a ramp planned there for use in our data centers. And, you know, it's robust," he said. Cook additionally suggested that AI was a factor in consumers' decision-making process when it comes to selecting a new smartphone. "I would say that Apple Intelligence is a factor, and we're very bullish on it becoming a greater factor," he said.

Apple to Pay Google $1 Billion Per Year for Siri's Custom Gemini AI Model, Report Says

According to the report, Apple was evaluating whether to use Google or AI competitor Anthropic for the next version of Siri. Gurman says Google offered a better financial deal. In an earlier Bloomberg report, he says Anthropic would have cost Apple $1.5 billion per year. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. This custom Gemini model will run on Apple's private cloud compute servers. Apple's own models will continue to run on devices for personal data, while Gemini would operate on servers for more complex tasks. Gurman also says that Apple won't highlight Google's involvement in the company's marketing. Representatives for Google, Apple and Anthropic didn't immediately respond to requests for comment. With major tech companies pivoting toward AI, Apple has largely been left behind. The tech company was slow to adopt AI and hasn't developed AI models that are competitive. It instead turned to companies like OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, to help add generative capabilities on top of existing Apple systems. Even then, the promise of a truly agentic Apple Intelligence has failed to materialize, although it has improved. Apple CEO Tim Cook also hasn't ruled out the possibility of acquiring an AI company. (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET's parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) Apple also has a close relationship with Google. The search giant pays Apple $20 billion annually to remain the default search engine on Apple devices. It's a relationship that nets Apple money and prevents it from building a competitor to Google Search, a claim Apple denies. This arrangement was an important factor in the Department of Justice's case against Google, where a judge ruled that the company was operating an illegal monopoly. Despite falling behind on AI, Apple is doing well financially. Last month, it surpassed a $4 trillion market cap.

Apple is planning to use a custom version of Google Gemini for Apple Intelligence

Apple is preparing to power its AI-upgraded Siri with a custom version of Google's Gemini AI model, according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The iPhone maker will reportedly pay Google around $1 billion annually to gain access to the technology, which will generate summaries and perform planning-related tasks. As noted by Bloomberg, Apple will run the custom Gemini model on its Private Cloud Compute servers, though it will continue to use in-house models to power some Siri features. Gurman reports that the Gemini model will use 1.2 trillion parameters to help inform its responses, far greater than the 150 billion-parameter model behind the cloud-based version of Apple Intelligence. Apple has been scrambling to get back on track after the company delayed the rollout of new AI-powered features inside Siri. In June, Bloomberg reported that Apple had weighed using models from OpenAI or Anthropic to power the new Siri before reportedly settling on a partnership with Google. This agreement is separate from plans to integrate Gemini's chatbot features into Siri, similar to what it already does with ChatGPT, according to Bloomberg. Last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors that the new Siri is set to arrive next spring, while also leaving the door open for more third-party AI integrations with Apple Intelligence. Though Apple is reportedly moving forward on a deal with Google, Bloomberg says Apple will continue developing its own AI technology that it could use to eventually replace Gemini.

Tim Cook says more AIs are coming to Apple Intelligence

Tim Cook says Apple has plans to embed more third-party AI tools into the company's operating systems. "Our intention is to integrate with more people over time," Cook said in an interview with CNBC. Apple has already embedded ChatGPT into Siri, with a Google Gemini integration said to be in the works, along with rumors swirling about a partnership with Anthropic and Perplexity. This isn't the first time we're hearing about third-party integrations, as Apple software SVP Craig Federighi said last year that the company "may look forward to doing integrations with different models like Google Gemini in the future." Cook also said that Apple is on track to release an AI-upgraded Siri next year, adding that "our intention is to integrate with more people over time." Apple is "making good progress" on Siri, he added during an earnings call on Thursday, noting that AI acquisitions are still on the table. "We are open to pursuing M&A [mergers and acquisitions] if we think that it will advance our roadmap," Cook said, echoing a statement from July. The news comes as Apple releases its fourth quarter earnings results, which revealed that the company raked in a record $102.5 billion over the past few months, marking an eight percent increase when compared to the same time last year. Even with last month's launch of the iPhone 17, Apple has yet to realize its plans for AI, which is supposed to bring an enhanced Siri across its devices. A recent report from Bloomberg suggested that Apple could partner with Google to build an AI search tool for Siri. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also confirmed last year that the company is working on Gemini support for the iPhone. Sales from the iPhone 17 lineup likely only make up a small portion of Apple's overall $49.03 billion in iPhone revenue. The new lineup includes the iPhone Air -- Apple's thinnest device yet -- along with the upgraded iPhone 17 and 17 Pro. This year, Apple brought some features previously reserved for its Pro-level iPhones to its entry-level device, including an always-on display with ProMotion support for smoother scrolling. Apple's Mac revenue rose to $8.72 billion, and it reported $6.95 billion in revenue from iPads. Apple's services division, which includes subscriptions to Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Fitness Plus, and Apple Arcade, grew to $28.8 billion.

Apple will reportedly use a custom version of Gemini to power the new Siri

When Apple introduces its more capable version of Siri in 2026, it increasingly sounds like it'll have Google to thank. Bloomberg reports that Apple is finalizing plans to use a custom version of Gemini to power the new Siri and plans to pay Google handsomely for the privilege. The new Siri will still use some of Apple's homegrown models, but will also rely on a version of Gemini running on the company's Private Cloud Compute servers to "handle Siri's summarizer and planner functions," Bloomberg writes. Those functions "help the voice assistant synthesize information and decide how to execute complex tasks." Since using apps on people's behalf is core to Apple's pitch for its updated assistant, Gemini appears to be playing a critical role. Apple will reportedly pay $1 billion annually to use Google's technology, a fraction of what Google has reportedly paid the company to make Google Search the default search option on Apple's devices. The partnership will likely not be advertised, though, and Apple plans to eventually replace Google's model with its own. Specifically, with "a one trillion parameter cloud-based model that it hopes to have ready for consumer applications as early as next year," according to Bloomberg. Siri can use ChatGPT for specific requests as part of Apple Intelligence, and Gemini was rumored to be added as another AI option in March 2024. After Apple delayed Siri a year later in 2025, though, the need for more substantial help reportedly became necessary. The possibility of Siri being backed by Gemini was first reported in August, when Google was asked to create a version of its model that could run securely on Apple's servers. The iPhone maker was previously rumored to have explored deals with both Anthropic and OpenAI before that.

Apple says new Siri with advanced AI features will finally launch in March 2026

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Forward-looking: Apple has confirmed that its enhanced Siri voice assistant, designed to offer greater personalization and advanced contextual awareness, remains scheduled for launch next year. Chief Executive Tim Cook provided the update following the company's latest earnings report, indicating that Apple expects the new Siri iteration to arrive with iOS 26.4 in March 2026. The forthcoming version of Siri will mark Apple's most significant update to its digital assistant in years. Originally unveiled during the company's Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2024, the rollout of the new features was later postponed in March due to technical challenges and integration delays. The revision aims to deepen Siri's understanding of user intent by leveraging on-device context, analyzing information from sources such as emails, messages, and calendar events. Demonstrations provided by Apple illustrated scenarios where users could ask Siri to check details about family travel plans or upcoming lunch reservations by synthesizing data from multiple apps. Apple also stated that the update will introduce more granular control over third-party applications, allowing users to ask Siri for nuanced actions within compatible services. This per-app integration is expected to expand as Apple secures additional partnerships in the artificial intelligence sector. Cook acknowledged the company's recent agreement with OpenAI, which will see ChatGPT integrated into Apple Intelligence features, and signaled that similar collaborations are in development. Despite optimism from Apple's leadership, the delay in these new Siri capabilities has prompted several class-action lawsuits from users who claim it hindered their ability to use the promised features. The company has not publicly commented on the litigation but stresses that technical hurdles were responsible for the change in timeline. Financially, Apple continues to show robust performance. The company reported record results for the third quarter of 2025, surpassing analyst forecasts and driven by sustained iPhone demand. Cook reiterated that Apple expects strong iPhone sales during the holiday quarter, projecting numbers above Wall Street's current consensus estimates. The anticipated release of the personalized Siri update next year is seen as a strategic move to keep Apple's product lineup competitive with rivals that feature increasingly sophisticated voice assistants.

Apple is paying Google $1bn to upgrade Siri with... Gemini

This represents Apple's desperation to enter the AI race, especially with its inability to build a model comparable to Google's Gemini. Voice assistants from tech brands like Google and Amazon have recently undergone significant enhancements powered by AI. Both Alexa+ and Gemini, which has replaced Google Assistant, are now available to users for testing and critique. In the meantime, Apple's ambitions to catch up to its competitors with Siri continue to drag on. Facing challenges in developing a conversational AI chatbot over the past several months, Apple reportedly considered partnering with other AI companies, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google, and was later believed to have chosen a partner.

Apple Will Reportedly Rent Siri a New Brain from Google for $1 Billion Per Year

Siri, which somehow still stinks, is finally getting a new core AI model, and it's going to be a 1.2 trillion parameter Google Gemini-based LLM, according to Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman. Until Apple gets its act together on a proprietary AI system, Gurman writes, it will reportedly give Google about $1 billion per year for a temporary fix. Internally, Apple apparently calls the Google-powered Siri upgrade by the code-name "Linwood," according to the report, and rather than announcing an exciting AI partnership, Apple regards Google's role in this deal as that of a "behind-the-scenes technology supplier," Gurman writes. Apple's AI assistant, released in 2010, has long been a perceived weakness in Apple's mobile software lineup. Even though it has been tweaked since the release of the Apple Intelligence suite, the voice-activated robot voice never became the centerpiece of some futuristic new AI-driven version of the iPhone as Apple once signaled it would. Instead it has come to symbolize Apple's sluggishness in the AI raceâ€"mostly perceived as a 15-year-old piece of software that tells you the weather, and says it doesn't understand you or can't help you aside from that. According to Gurman's past reporting, the upgrade will be in place this coming spring as part of the update to iOS 26.4. This round of changes to Siri will be focused on "personalization," allowing the assistant "to tap into consumers’ personal data and on-screen activities in order to better fulfill queries." According to MacRumors, the upgrade will still involve Apple's proprietary models when queries can be answered with a lower-powered model that runs on the device itself, and there will be privacy measures in place for when Google's software gets involved. "User privacy will be preserved by running the Google models on Apple’s server infrastructure without any external data sharing, and on-device personal data will likely be processed using Apple’s own Foundation Models," writes Benjamin Mayo of MacRumors. Gurman says the switch to Google Gemini will occur when Siri needs to perform complex tasks or summarize information. Gurman's report, as usual, comes from anonymous leaks, while Apple's formal statement in response to this report notes that the spring release of new Siri features is not something the company has formally announced. As Gizomodo's James Pero wrote in July of this year, Apple was reportedly in talks with OpenAI and Anthropic about the possibility of powering this Siri upgrade with a GPT or Claude model. Given that the AI announcements in July didn't match what had been previously advertised, it looked like things were "not going as planned." Now we have one more data point hinting at what's been going on behind the scenes at Apple's AI workshop. Apple supposedly still intends to develop its own AI system to power some future version of Siri, even as AI staff defections mountâ€"for example, Ke Yang, who was spearheading Apple's in-house chatbot effort, and who left for Meta last month. But in the meantime, it seems a $1 billion-per-year Google Gemini model will do.

Siri's intelligence may be getting a boost from Google Gemini

Siri plays a prominent role in the iPhone experience, helping users complete tasks with the aid of voice commands. Recent Apple Intelligence integration was designed to make it even better, but the secret to a planned boost in the AI assistant's abilities may just come from Google. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has indicated (via 9to5Mac) that the upcoming Siri experience will be backed by Google Gemini, with Apple paying the search giant to create a custom model that will run on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers. Apple was in talks with Google and Amazon since last year for custom model building Last year, we heard that Apple was in talks with Google and Amazon about integrating their AI products into Siri. Now it looks like the Cupertino tech giant has opted for Google's Gemini over Amazon-backed Anthropic. The preexisting Google Search integration in Safari could be one of the reasons Apple chose the Gemini-based model over Anthropic for Siri, noted Gurman. It is encouraging to see things finally moving forward for both companies. Even though Google is creating a custom model of Gemini based on Apple servers, Gurman pointed out that neither company is likely to officially promote the partnership. It also means we are less likely to see Siri showcasing Google services and Gemini features as opposed to what we are accustomed to with Galaxy AI on Samsung phones. Gurman speculated that the Gemini-backed new Siri might show up in the iOS 26.4 firmware release for iPhones, likely to happen in the first or second quarter of next year. Apple seems to have been working on this incorporation for quite some time. A report from Mark Gurman earlier this year had indicated that Apple is rebuilding Siri, involving three key components: "a planner, the search systems for the web and devices, and a summarizer." As 9to5Mac points out, the search system from the component would involve a custom Gemini model to gather information from the web. The planner and summarizer are also likely to involve Gemini models, which will be running on Apple servers. However, since it is not a core Google Gemini integration as seen on other Android phones, the chances of data sharing are likely to be minimal, keeping the users' privacy intact. All in all, the latest Gemini integration could potentially improve Siri's ability to answer complex queries and general knowledge questions more effectively than it currently does for iPhone users.

Apple nears $1 billion Google deal for custom Gemini model to power Siri - 9to5Mac

Bloomberg is reporting new details on the partnership between Apple and Google to have Gemini power the revamped Siri next year. Here are the details. A few days ago, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Google had won the AI bake-off against Anthropic to become Apple's AI provider for the revamped, AI-powered Siri, set to be released next year. Interestingly, what reportedly tipped the scales towards Google wasn't model performance, but rather the price tag. Now, Gurman has reported further on the value: "Following an extensive evaluation period, the two companies are now finalizing an agreement that would see Apple pay roughly $1 billion annually for access to Google's technology, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. The new Siri is on track for next spring, Bloomberg has reported." The new report also includes a few technical details regarding the size of the custom-made model that Google will provide Apple: "Apple Inc. is planning to use a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model developed by Alphabet Inc.'s Google to help power its long-promised overhaul of the Siri voice assistant, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The iPhone maker is banking on Google's help to rebuild Siri's underlying technology, setting the stage for a new slate of features next year. The Google model's 1.2 trillion parameters -- a measure of the AI software's complexity -- would dwarf the level of Apple's current models." For reference, Apple's in-house cloud-based model has 150 billion parameters, while Apple's local model (which was made with on-device performance in mind, rather than raw power and size) has 3 billion parameters. Bloomberg says that project Glenwood, which is the codename of Apple's effort to look into a third-party provider for Siri's AI-powered smarts, was overseen by Mike Rockwell, who was recently put in charge of the Siri revamp following an internal shake-up. Today's report also says that Google will not get the totality of the new Siri's functions: "Under the arrangement, Google's Gemini model will handle Siri's summarizer and planner functions -- the components that help the voice assistant synthesize information and decide how to execute complex tasks. Some Siri features will continue to use Apple's in-house models." Also under the agreement, Google's model will reportedly run on Apple's own servers, which in practice means that no user data will be shared with Google. Instead, they won't leave Apple's Private Cloud Compute structure. Gurman also says that this new agreement is different from Apple's past explorations to have Gemini as a partner to provide Siri with world knowledge, like with Apple's current deal with OpenAI. Apple reportedly came close to coming to an agreement with Google on that in 2024, but "ultimately didn't materialize into a feature." Finally, the report claims that Apple's deal with Google doesn't mean that the company is giving up on its own projects to have an independent model to power Siri: "Apple still doesn't want to use Gemini as a long-term solution. Despite the company bleeding AI talent -- including the head of its models team -- management intends to keep developing new AI technology and hopes to eventually replace Gemini with an in-house solution, the people said. To that end, the company's models team is working on a 1 trillion parameter cloud-based model that it hopes to have ready for consumer applications as early as next year." Whether Apple can catch up and continue to evolve its own capabilities, keeping pace with the natural evolution of Gemini and the broader AI market, remains to be seen.

Apple's reportedly closing in on a deal to power AI Siri with Google Gemini -- what that means for you

Remember those rumors about how Apple could team up with Google, and use a custom Gemini AI model to power the upcoming upgrades to Siri? Well, it looks like that might well be happening, with Bloomberg reporting that Apple is now planning to pay Google $1 billion a year for an "ultrapowerful 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model." We've heard reports about the possibility of this happening, but at the time, Apple had yet to make a decision on which AI company it would be partnering with. Speculation has focused on Google, Anthropic and ChatGPT-creators OpenAI -- the latter of which already has a partnership with Apple, answering questions and performing tasks that Siri can't handle on its own. Now, "following an extensive evaluation period," it seems that Apple and Google are finalizing the agreement to bring Google's AI tech to the iPhone. However, the deal is apparently separate to past talks that would have integrated Google Gemini with Siri and iOS, as an alternative to ChatGPT. Sources speaking to Bloomberg claim that Apple wants Google's help to rebuild the underlying technology behind Siri. Past reports claimed that Apple had attempted to build the new AI-powered Siri on top of the old virtual assistant, in an attempt to catch up with its rivals. However, this apparently didn't work, causing various problems throughout the process, and it's claimed that this attempt is part of the reason why the upgrade has been delayed so long. Bloomberg itself previously reported that the Google deal was only an interim solution until it was able to develop its own in-house AI models that are powerful enough to do the job. For reference, Apple Intelligence's current models only handle 150 billion parameters, so there's a lot of catching up that needs to be done. Gemini is reportedly going to handle Siri's summarizing and planning features, which focus on synthesizing information and executing complex tasks. However, Google will not be controlling all of Siri's features, and Apple will continue to use its own models for certain tasks -- though it isn't specified what they might be. The model is also expected to run on Apple's Private Cloud compute servers, which ensures user information is kept secure, in Apple's hands and away from any Google infrastructure. Bloomberg also speculates that it'll be different to deal that pushes Google as the default Search engine in Safari, in that Apple is unlikely to talk about Google's involvement with Siri publicly. Siri's long-overdue upgrade is still expected to launch at some point next Spring, with reports suggesting it'll come with the iOS 26.4 update. Here's hoping Apple can stick to that deadline, because we've waited long enough for it to fulfill its initial Apple Intelligence promises.

Here's How Much Apple is Paying Google to Power the New Siri

Apple is planning to use an AI model designed by Google to power the smarter version of Siri that's coming out in 2026, and the technology is going to cost Apple approximately $1 billion per year. According to Bloomberg, Apple is close to establishing a deal for a 1.2 trillion parameter Google Gemini artificial intelligence model. The $1 billion estimated annual payment that Apple will make to Google for access to the Gemini model is just a fraction of what Google pays Apple to be the default search engine on Apple devices. Google paid Apple $20 billion for key search engine placement in 2022, and the payment may have gone up since then. Apple plans to use Gemini for Siri's summarizer and planner functions. Summarization features understand and condense information, while planner functions look at a task, determine the steps to complete the task, and then decide on the actions to take to get it done. A request like "read this PDF and tell me the important points" would use a summarizer function. Something more complicated like "schedule a lunch meeting with Bob" would use a planner function because it would require multiple steps like checking a calendar, picking a time, and sending a message. Gemini won't power all of Siri's features, and Apple will continue to use its own models for some capabilities. Apple plans to run the Gemini model on its own Private Cloud Compute servers, so it won't be paying Google for processing, but it will need to pay to power those servers. Apple is already expanding its Private Cloud Compute server setup in anticipation of the launch of the new version of Siri. Apple is expected to roll out the new version of Siri around March or April 2026.

Report: Apple to pay Google $1B a year to provide Siri's updated AI brain

The 1.2-trillion parameter model will serve as the basis for the next-generation Siri. A new report from Bloomberg says that Apple is finalizing a deal in which it will pay Google about a billion dollars a year to use its AI technology as the foundation for the long-overdue new Siri. The new model is essentially a customized version of Google's Gemini LLM, according to Mark Gurman's report. Apple reportedly evaluated Claude and ChatGPT earlier this year and zeroed in on Google to create an LLM based on its Gemini model. The version Apple will employ will have 1.2 trillion parameters, in comparison to the 150 billion parameters of the cloud-based Apple Intelligence model used today. The number of parameters is one measure of the size and complexity of an AI model, but not the only one. It's not clear how many parameters are in today's leading LLMs like Gemini 2.5 Pro or ChatGPT 5, as most of the leading AI developers have stopped publishing such details. According to estimates, a 1.2-trillion parameter model would be well in line with the leading AI models today. Apple still intends to use its own technology in the future. This deal is said to be an interim solution until the homemade Siri model is good enough to replace it. This new Gemini model will handle Siri's summarizer and planner functions -- the parts that allow Siri to understand what is being asked of it and how it should execute tasks. Some Siri functions would still use Apple's in-house models, it is claimed. The partnership may be short-lived, however. Apple's team is said to already be working on a 1 trillion parameter model that it hopes to have ready for public use "as early as next year," and Apple execs believe they can match the quality of Google's custom Gemini model. The big Gemini model will run on Apple's own Private Cloud Compute hardware rather than Google's servers, so Apple can ensure user privacy and that no user data ever gets into Google (or anyone else's) hands. In China, where most Google technology is banned, the new Siri will in-house models with a custom filter that adjusts content to comply with Chinese government demands. The new Siri is still said to be scheduled for release in the spring, with Apple aiming to bring it to users in the OS 26.4 releases, which usually arrive in March.

Apple's $1 billion AI gamble might be too late to tempt users back to Apple Intelligence

As Apple draws closer to a $1 billion-per-year deal with Google to power Siri with Gemini, it's got me feeling nostalgic for the initial Apple Intelligence announcement at WWDC 2024 and the promise of Apple AI. Nearly 18 months later, and we all know about Apple's AI situation; in fact, it's been so publicly documented, delayed, and ineffective that, as it stands, Apple Intelligence is up there with the Apple Newton as one of the company's worst ever products. It's been a long-standing rumour from Bloomberg's top industry insider, Mark Gurman, that Apple was looking to partner with Google to fix its AI woes and meet the delivery window for the delayed upgrade to its voice assistant Siri by March/April 2026. Now it's all but confirmed with Gurman's latest report, revealing the $1 billion a year deal will allow Apple to use Google's 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model to "help run its long-promised overhaul of the Siri voice assistant, according to people with knowledge of the matter." The 1.2 trillion parameters of Google's AI make Apple's 150 million parameters for the cloud-based version of Apple Intelligence almost embarrassing, and while I have little doubt that Apple, with the help of Google, will get AI on its devices right, it's hard not to ignore the mess that the Cupertino-based tech giant has found itself in. According to those same people in the know, this deal is going to remain on the down-low, with Apple choosing to power Siri with the Gemini system without singing about it from the rafters. In fact, Gurman goes as far as to say that this solution is being viewed internally as an "interim solution until Apple's own models are powerful enough." If this new partnership with Google is a temporary solution, then it truly does highlight Apple's panic to catch up with the AI race, despite constantly lagging behind. This news shines even more light on the fact that the initial Apple Intelligence reveal was slapped together at the last minute in an effort to showcase Apple as a trailblazer, rather than being left in the past while Google and OpenAI were heading for the future. According to Gurman, Google Gemini will power Siri's "summarizer and planner functions -- the components that help the voice assistant synthesize information and decide how to execute complex tasks. Some Siri features will continue to use Apple's in-house models." It's essentially going to be a hybrid between Google's AI model and Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, allowing Apple to emphasize the privacy element of Apple Intelligence, keeping data private from Google. According to the report, this new approach to "fix Siri with a third-party model" has been named internally as "Glenwood" and is being "led by Vision Pro headset creator Mike Rockwell and software engineering chief Craig Federighi." Gurman adds that the voice assistant is codenamed "Linwood" and is set to launch as part of iOS 26.4 early next year. Last year's iPhone 16 lineup was marketed as the best smartphone for Apple Intelligence, but ultimately ended up offering very limited AI in the form of Genmoji, Summaries, and Image Playground, to name just a few of the headline features. With a measly AI offering to date, Apple chose to limit its mention of Apple Intelligence at the iPhone 17 reveal keynote in September, with barely any marketing, if any, focused on the power of AI in the current best iPhones. It's that 180 that makes me concerned for the future of Apple Intelligence. Does Apple really think people are going to forget the woes of the branded AI and just get back on the hype train once this new Gemini-powered Siri launches next year? If anything, publicly revealing Gemini's part in the resurgence of AI on iPhone would give Apple credibility that it has since lost, because I don't believe going back to the "AI for the rest of us" spiel is in the brand's or consumer's interest. This deal is reportedly at the finalization stage, and with 2026 fast approaching, we won't have long to wait to see the implementation in full flow. That said, I really think the ship might've sailed, especially if Apple continues to put its pride above humility. Google could've powered Siri, just like it powers Samsung AI, back in 2024, and I don't think anyone would've had an issue. Instead, now, Apple is going to launch a new Siri, when most of us already use the Gemini that will power it, or a competitor like ChatGPT. Is it too late to tempt users back to Apple Intelligence? I'm starting to think it is.

Siri reportedly to be powered by Gemini

It looks like Apple finally has a plan for its long-awaited Siri overhaul. According to reporting from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company's next-generation digital assistant will be powered by Google's Gemini AI. In Gurman's latest Power On newsletter, he confirmed that the upgraded Siri will run a custom Gemini model hosted on Apple's private cloud compute servers. This setup will enable Siri to answer more personalized questions by drawing on on-device data and generating context-aware responses. The new Siri, per Bloomberg, is built around three main components: a query planner, a knowledge search system, and a summarizer. The Gemini models running on Apple's servers will handle the planning and summarization processes. Gurman notes that Apple is betting big on this new Siri upgrade, relying heavily on Gemini's power and Google's experience in search. But users shouldn't expect Siri to suddenly become an Android clone. Instead, Apple is using Gemini as the backbone for smarter, faster responses while keeping the overall experience tightly integrated into its own ecosystem. If Gurman's reporting holds true, the revamped Siri is expected to debut as soon as next spring with the iOS 26.4 update. Fingers crossed it actually shows up on schedule.

Siri could get its long-awaited AI level-up with Google Gemini

What's happened? Earlier this year, there were reports that Google's Gemini would give Siri a major brain upgrade, and now the pieces appear to be falling into place. According to Bloomberg, Apple is finalising a deal with Google to use a custom version of the Gemini AI model to power the next-gen Siri assistant. The deal, reportedly worth about $1 billion a year, gives Siri access to Google's massive 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini model. Apple will run the model on its own 'Private Cloud Compute' infrastructure to maintain data control. Apple isn't giving up on its own AI; this deal just buys it time until its homegrown models can compete. The revamped Siri is expected to launch in early 2026. This is important because: Siri has lagged behind competitors like Gemini and Alexa in delivering advanced conversational AI and multi-step task support, and this deal signals a major push to catch up. Using Google's 1.2-trillion-parameter model is a massive jump from Apple's 150 billion baseline that could finally give Siri the context and reasoning skills it's long lacked. Running the model on Apple's own cloud infrastructure means control over user data and privacy while leveraging external AI muscle. Recommended Videos Why it matters? This deal could potentially change how you interact with your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other Apple devices in the future. As an iPhone user, you could soon say things like "Plan my travel for next week, book the hotel, map the route, and list local cafes" and actually get Siri to follow through all your commands in one go. Siri's response may feel more natural, less robotic, and you might get fewer "I don't know" replies. OK, what's next? It is yet to be seen whether Apple frames the deal publicly, acknowledging Google Gemini integration, or positions it purely as Apple Intelligence. Watch out for Apple's official announcement, as the rollout is speculated to arrive in spring 2026, possibly tied to iOS 26.4. Expect an Apple Siri vs Google Gemini comparison as Apple blends its AI with Google's to redefine Siri's next chapter.

AppleInsider.com

As a preamble to earnings, CEO Tim Cook said Apple is still looking to partner with companies other than OpenAI for Apple Intelligence integrations, but nothing is ready to be announced just yet. Apple's Q4 earnings are in, and it's a good one that beats Wall Street expectations, though iPhone sales aren't increasing at a rate investors would like to see. Another significant interest for investors is AI, which Apple CEO Tim Cook did comment on in regards to earnings. According to a quote shared by CNBC live on their cable show, Cook shared that more AI integrations are coming, but there's nothing to announce. This aligns with previous rumors that Apple was in talks with Anthropic and OpenAI to bring versions of their models to Apple's Private Cloud Compute. These moves are of interest to investors since Apple Intelligence didn't catch the world on fire at launch. It did spike demand for iPhone, at least briefly, but a supercycle never took place driven by AI. Apple delayed select features for Apple Intelligence when it discovered the implementation, tying ML and AI systems together, wasn't providing satisfactory results. So, after going back to the drawing board, Apple plans to release a fully LLM-backed Siri with app intent control in early 2026. Cook says that the planned launch of the delayed features is still on track. That launch should also coincide with new AI partnerships, but nothing has been shared just yet about how that might work. There have been hints, like Apple's requests to bring models to Private Cloud Compute to maintain consumer data privacy. There's also the addition of Model Context Protocol in iOS 26.1 that'll further improve Apple's ability to tie third-party AI to iPhone functions. Fans of artificial intelligence need only wait a little longer for Apple's AI ecosystem to come together. Once launched, it should showcase Apple's vertical integration of hardware and software in a way that competitors can't match, making it a powerful AI platform. Investors hope this will drive an upgrade cycle for the latest iPhone models that can run AI. It should drive demand for lower-priced iPhone 16, the latest iPhone 17 models, and the spring's iPhone 17e -- all of which can run Apple Intelligence.

Apple's new Siri will secretly use Google Gemini models behind the scenes - 9to5Mac

Via Mark Gurman, Apple has landed on its strategy for the new Siri update coming as soon as iOS 26.4 in the spring of next year. Behind the scenes, much of the new Siri experience will use Google Gemini models. The custom Gemini model will run on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, to help fulfil user requests. Apple has promised that the new Siri will be able to answer personal questions like 'find the book recommendation from Mom' by hunting through data on your device and generating the appropriate response on-the-fly. As previously reported by Bloomberg, the new Siri architecture will have three distinct components; a query planner, a knowledge search system, and a summarizer. Google Gemini models will run on Apple's servers and provide planner and summarizer capabilities. User privacy will be preserved by running the Google models on Apple's server infrastructure without any external data sharing, and on-device personal data will likely be processed using Apple's own Foundation Models. The new knowledge search component may also be powered using Gemini models. It will enable Siri to have 'understanding' about world topics and trivia, and allow Apple's voice assistant to answer more general knowledge questions without resorting to third-party integrations like the mediocre ChatGPT integration, or falling back to basic 'I found this on the web' search results. While the backend implementation of Gemini models will be extensive, Bloomberg says Apple is not expected to promote this partnership. Gemini models will just power parts of Siri secretly behind the scenes. All of the new Siri will be marketed as Apple's technology running on Apple servers, presented using an Apple user interface. The deal will simply help Apple fill in some crucial technology gaps where its own LLM systems are currently not good enough. The arrangement isn't too dissimilar from what Samsung does with its Galaxy phones, where many of its 'Galaxy AI' features are thin wrappers around Google Gemini features. The deal is a practical choice that helps Apple finally ship Siri AI features that it first promised to deliver a year ago. Ultimately, Customers don't really care about implementation details, they just want the iPhone to have features they expect it to have. We currently expect Apple to announce the new Siri release in the spring alongside the launch of iOS 26.4, in March or April. Apple is also readying a new smart home display device that will take advantage of the new AI assistant capabilities.

Siri is finally getting smarter, and Apple is set to "lean" on Google Gemini for it

Major changes are coming to Siri in spring next year as part of Apple's AI push, and that also means a little help from Google. The Cupertino crew looks set to launch a completely revamped version of Siri around March 2026, powered behind the scenes by a custom version of Google Gemini. So don't expect any Google features to start popping up on your interface, as this partnership is all under the hood. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is reportedly paying Google to build a Gemini-based model that runs its own Private Cloud Compute servers -- helping Siri deliver smarter, faster answers while keeping everything wrapped in Apple's familiar interface. To showcase the new Gemini-enabled Siri and its other AI features, Apple is also planning a new smart home display, available with both a speaker base and wall-mount options.

Apple's New Siri Will Be Powered By Google Gemini

The smarter, more capable version of Siri that Apple is developing will be powered by Google Gemini, reports Bloomberg. Apple will pay Google approximately $1 billion per year for a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model that was developed by Google. For context, parameters are a measure of how a model understands and responds to queries. More parameters generally means more capable, though training and architecture are also factors. Bloomberg says that Google's model "dwarfs" the parameter level of Apple's current models. The current cloud-based version of Apple Intelligence uses 150 billion parameters, but there are no specific metrics detailing how the other models Apple is developing measure up. Apple will use Gemini for functions related to summarizing and multi-step task planning and execution, but Apple models will also be used for some Siri features. The AI model that Google is developing for Apple will run on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, so Google will not have access to Apple data. Gemini uses a Mixture-of-Experts architecture, so while it has over a trillion total parameters, only a fraction of them are activated for each query. The architecture allows for a large total compute capacity without racking up significant processing costs. Apple weighed using its own AI models for the LLM version of Siri, and also tested options from OpenAI and Anthropic, but it decided to go with Gemini after deciding Anthropic's fees were too high. Apple already has a partnership with Google for search results, with Google paying Apple around $20 billion per year to be the default search engine option on Apple devices. Though Apple is planning to rely on Google AI for now, it plans to continue working on its own models and will transition to an in-house solution when its LLMs are capable enough. Apple is already working on a 1 trillion parameter cloud-based model that could be ready as soon as 2026. Apple is unlikely to publicize its arrangement with Google while it develops in-house models. Apple was meant to debut an updated version of Siri in iOS 18, but deficiencies required the company to overhaul the underlying Siri architecture and significantly delay the rollout. The smarter Apple Intelligence Siri is expected to be introduced in an iOS 26.4 update that's coming in spring 2026. Siri will be able to answer more complex queries and complete more complicated tasks in and between apps. It will be closer in function to Claude and ChatGPT, though Apple is not planning a dedicated chatbot app.

Apple confirms its next-gen Siri is on track to launch in 2026

In its conference call to discuss its record-breaking Q4 on Thursday, Apple divulged some information about the future of Apple Intelligence, which has been stuck in limbo since the new Siri was delayed earlier this year. But there's good news: Apple is on track to deliver the overdue features next year. In comments to analysts during and after the earnings report, CEO Tim Cook said Apple is "making good progress" on the upgraded Siri and is on track to release the new assistant next year. That's typically vague, but most reports say the feature will arrive as part of iOS 26.4 or 26.5 in the spring. Even if the new Siri arrives in March, the earlier side of estimates, it will be more than a year since Apple promised the feature as part of iOS 18. The new Siri includes several features, including App Intents, which allows Siri to integrate with third-party apps, and screen awareness, which allows Siri to see and understand what's on your screen. Additionally, Siri is expected to be more personal, using mail, messages, and web history to build user profiles. In addition to the new Siri, Cook also told CNBC that Apple is planning to "integrate with more (AI tools) over time," another promise we've heard before. Apple added ChatGPT to Apple Intelligence with iOS 18.2 last year, and persistent rumors have claimed Apple is in talks with Perplexity and Google for Gemini integration.

Gemini may be the only way we get the Siri we want, and I'm actually fine with that

It's been a long wait for the Siri we want and were promised back when Apple first unveiled Apple Intelligence 18 months ago and while Apple now promises it will arrive next year, I'm tired of waiting and wondering and am more than willing to accept the latest rumor as fact: Apple will brain transplant Siri's and its current Generative AI model work with Gemini and its potential 1.2 trillion parameter model. This is not fact. Apple has announced nothing. Google has said nothing. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is simply following up on rumors he sparked earlier this year that Apple would, instead of continuing work on its own models, substitute the more robust ones available from search partner Google. What Apple has said is that work is progressing. It's on track. During the most recent Apple earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook told investors and analysts regarding Siri, "We're making good progress on it and expect to release it next year." That doesn't deviate from what Apple's Craig Federighi and Greg Jozwiak told me last June. 2026 is the year, and while not said, it was implied that we have some patience, especially after Apple discovered that this was a tougher task than they thought and that the V1 architecture they planned to use simply wasn't up to snuff. Earlier this year, Apple started shuffling the deck on its AI team, ousting John Giannandrea - he moved elsewhere in the company - and putting new leadership under the watchful eye of Federighi. It feels like Apple has a plan, but is also still moving at something other than "AI Time." Meanwhile, competitors like OpenAI, Perplexity, Amazon, and Google are lapping them, producing ever-more powerful models and generative AI experiences that are arriving on desktops and phones every single day. And consumers are already adopting them. In my own home, my wife casually switches between platforms when she thinks one might do a better job. When she recently wanted to see what an old piece of furniture might look like refinished in the same paint color as our kitchen cabinets, she casually switched from her usual go-to, ChatGPT, to Gemini (though an iPhone users, Siri is niot even part of this decision set), because she'd heard it was faster (and her company has just opened an enterprise account). The result was nearly perfect. The fact of the matter is, as much as many of us might love and use ChatGPT for quick answers and summaries, Google's Gemini models are as good, if not better, in many cases. It makes sense for Apple to look closely at Google and Gemini as potential solutions to its AI woes. Sure, Apple has a relationship with ChatGPT, which you can summon through Siri queries, but it is no more integrated into Siri's brain than the ChatGPT app. Apple works even more closely with Google; it's Apple's contracted Search partner for Safari (Google reportedly pays Apple $20 billion a year for the privilege). Google and ChatGPT also live in Apple's Visual Intelligence. Again, there's no deep integration here, just a connection to ChatGPT's prompt ingestor or Google's image search. If this rumor is true, the relationship between Google, Apple Intelligence, Gemini, and Siri would change in a foundational way. Siri would look the same on the outside but have a super-charged set of Gemini AI models on the inside. While it's not uncommon for platforms to use multiple models (first- and third-party), I don't know what of the original Siri will remain. Not that that necessarily matters. This new Siri would finally fulfill the promise of Apple Intelligence. Think of it like Apple's version of Copilot, another AI platform that's powered primarily by a third party's models, in this case, OpenAI's GPT-5 (yes, the same one that powers ChatGPT). This, too, is another reason for Apple to choose Google Gemini over OpenAI. After all, Apple doesn't want Siri to work like Copilot - or, rather, it wants Siri to work at least as well, but in ways distinctly Gemini, or at least Siri. Doing so will represent something of a defeat for Apple. Let's face it, we were all excited by the promise of a truly system- and personal information-aware Siri, one that could combine that intelligence to become an in-your-hand agent, an assistant who could intuit your needs because it knew the platform, the hardware, and, most importantly, you. It's becoming clear that Apple can't seem to pull this off, at least not in time to stay in this AI race. It needs Google. Apple and Siri need Gemini. And I'm OK with that.

When You Say 'Hey Siri', Google's Gemini May Respond Back | AIM

Bloomberg reported that Apple plans to pay Google nearly $1 billion per year to integrate Gemini AI models into Siri. Apple is planning to pay Google $1 billion a year to integrate the Gemini AI model into Siri, according to a report by Bloomberg on November 5. This aims to address persistent issues with Apple Intelligence and the significant delays in the anticipated Siri upgrade and overhaul. Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report stated that the companies are now finalising an agreement after an extensive evaluation period. Gemini will be deployed on Apple's privacy-focused Private Cloud Compute servers. In 2024, Apple announced an upgraded version of its voice assistant Siri, which uses AI to provide personalised responses, visual context integration, in-app actions, and more. While it was initially announced for this year, Apple has further delayed its release to 2026. Several engineers from Apple reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of the upgraded version of Siri that was being developed. Besides, Apple also internally re-shuffled its leadership in AI, moving the responsibility for Siri development away from AI chief John Giannandrea and placing it under the oversight of software head Craig Federighi, with Mike Rockwell (formerly of the Vision Pro team) becoming directly responsible for the assistant's turnaround. Currently, Apple Intelligence, the suite of AI features on Apple devices, is powered by in-house models -- while the company is also building a 'trillion' parameter model in an attempt to catch up with successful large language models in the competition. This is set to be available for consumer applications 'as early as next year' reported Bloomberg. "The hope is to use the [Gemini] technology as an interim solution until Apple's own models are powerful enough," added the Bloomberg report. Additionally, Apple is already in a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT as an extension for Siri. If its partnership with Google materialises, it will be interesting to see how both these integrations operate and evolve. On the other hand, Google is paying Apple billions of dollars a year -- $20 billion in 2022, for instance, to ensure that its search engine appears as the default on Apple's Safari browser. However, Bloomberg stated that this partnership is going to be different, as the Gemini integration works on the back end without revealing any of Google's branding to the users.

Apple could tap Gemini for Siri's AI rebirth and it's as bittersweet as it gets

Gemini could make Siri so much smarter. But why pick an iPhone, if Gemini can already do it better on Android? Apple chief Tim Cook confirmed a few days ago that the overdue AI brain transplant for Siri -- one that makes it nearly as smart as rivals such as Gemini and Copilot -- will arrive next year. The company is pretty late to the AI game, one where legacy assistants have already been upgraded with next-gen smarts. Google Assistant is now Gemini. Microsoft has left Cortana behind and entered the Copilot era. Upstarts such as ChatGPT and Claude are finding their way to mainstream products, integrating with a wide variety of apps and services -- even fleshing out as browsers. Recommended Videos Siri, well, it has remained the same. Apple gave it a half-hearted boost by pushing the stack behind ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence. Essentially, ChatGPT handles what Siri can't, from generating fun images to fixing grammar. Apple's in-house attempts with an AI rebirth, dubbed LLM Siri, have reportedly taken a backseat. Google, it seems, could play the knight in the shining armor for Apple. What's happening? In the latest edition of his PowerOn newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple tasked Anthropic and Google with building a model that could run atop its own compute servers and serve as the backbone for Siri. Even though Anthropic's Claude was deemed the better choice, Apple ultimately went with Google's Gemini. "Apple is betting heavily on the new Siri, which will lean on Google's Gemini model and introduce features like AI-powered web search," says the report. What does this mean? Well, that's pretty unpredictable, to be fair. Will Gemini remove ChatGPT from its pedestal within the Apple Intelligence bundle? We're not sure. Will a "raw" Gemini foundation simply be integrated with the Siri codebase and make it smarter? That's plausible. Or, will Gemini simply co-exist alongside ChatGPT, letting users pick the one they prefer? We can't rule that out either. "Our intention is to integrate with more people over time," Cook told CNBC, so there's that vague, but heavy-hitting statement. In the past, Apple executives have said that the company is open to more AI partnerships. Last year, SVP of Software division, Craig Federighi, mentioned that Apple "may look forward to doing integrations with different models like Google Gemini in the future." At the moment, there's plenty of wild speculation out there regarding the future of Siri. But it seems that Apple has given up ambitions of using its own foundation AI model for the architecture-level upgrade to Siri, and will essentially use the framework that currently powers Gemini. The wins are obvious On the surface, putting Gemini's architecture behind Siri sounds like a win-win situation. Gemini's natural language capabilities are far ahead of what Siri currently has to offer. Just try the Gemini Live mode and you will realize the gulf between the two. Even on smartwatches, Gemini has fundamentally transformed the voice-based controls. I can't wait for Siri to become less robotic and engage in free-flowing conversations. Actually, I want it to understand voice commands that don't sound like repetitive and hardcoded word salad, and it can execute multi-step tasks, just the way Amazon's next-gen Alexa+ assistant is now doing. Gemini has a proven track record of integrating deeply with software millions use on a daily basis. From Chrome browser and Gmail to Google Docs and even third-party tools like WhatsApp and Spotify, Google's AI has been baked thoughtfully at the heart of many products. It covers the whole spectrum, and then some more. From productivity tools and vibe coding to image and video generation, Google's AI stack is going it all. Does that mean Apple devices will become the next sales garden for Google's own services? Unlikely. Given Apple's history, Apple will never admit that Gmail is better than Mail, and would actively avoid any confrontational situation, either. "You shouldn't expect this to mean Siri will be flooded with Google services or Gemini features already found on Android devices," Bloomberg notes. It's going to be a controversial choice. With Gemini boosting Siri's capabilities at the foundation level, the AI-driven experiences within Apple's own suite of apps and services will get a big lift. Doing so would even make the Apple products stand out in the face of Google's alternatives, assuming it plays its cards right. Take, for example, scam detection and protection. Google is now using on-device Gemini Nano processing to sniff scams midway through a call or texting session. The company says these advancements have already made Android devices safer than iPhones. That's nothing short of a historical reversal. Google likely won't share the whole secret sauce behind this progress with Apple, but Apple can still leverage Gemini to improve the experience within its own apps in other ways. The company already has the foundations ready, and all it needs is a capable AI intermediary to handle the job. That magic pill is App Intents, a system that lets users navigate through the entire UI of their iPhone with voice commands. "With nothing but your voice, you'll be able to tell Siri to find a specific photo, edit it and send it off. Or comment on an Instagram post. Or scroll a shopping app and add something to your cart. Or log in to a service without touching the screen," reports Bloomberg. Google has already given us a taste of such a Gemini-powered experience. Gemini's integration within Google products can already handle a wide range of cross-app commands, while Project Mariner offers an entirely agentic experience where Gemini can surf the web and take actions on your behalf. Bloomberg recently reported that Apple wants to turn wearables such as the Apple Watch and AirPods into AI-powered devices. The new Workout Buddy feature on Apple Watches is a sign of things to come. Once again, Google has shown that it can do one better. The company has already deployed AI on wearables for a wide range of practical tasks, from personalized coaching to bi-directional translation. In a nutshell, with Gemini, Apple has a tried and tested formula to execute AI across its entire hardware and software stack under the Siri banner. Apple already has multi-billion-dollar deals with Google in place, so deepening ties likely won't raise as many antitrust eyes as partnering with another major AI lab. It's not a good spectacle On this surface, picking Gemini sounds like the most natural fit. But Apple will also have to make a few compromises. First, it would diminish the level of top-to-bottom control that Apple usually exerts over its software portfolio. Additionally, putting Gemini in the driving seat means Apple will depend on the progress Google makes with its own Gemini models. At the moment, what works in Apple's favor is that Gemini is one of the most powerful AI models out there. That means Apple won't run the risk of looking like a laggard by picking it as the brains behind Siri. But going with Google also comes with its own set of drawbacks, even though Apple has made it clear that it will run all processes strictly atop its own private compute servers, ensuring that all user data is processed securely. Google's reputation with privacy and security, which has attracted multiple investigations and fines over the years, will make users double-think about the whole Gemini-underneath-Siri situation. But more than anything, the specter of piggybacking atop Gemini to finally rescue Siri will weigh atop Apple's reputation as an innovator. The partnership with OpenAI, which let users shift their queries to ChatGPT if Siri couldn't handle them, was already an indirect admission that Apple's AI efforts were far behind the competition. Putting Gemini at the heart would be another dent in the prestige. Putting Gemini in an even deeper steering role for Gemini would further diminish the appeal. After all, if Gemini is already offering the same experience -- and with deeper integration across mobile and web platforms -- on Android phones, why would you need an iPhone or Mac to experience Siri with the same set of capabilities? In hindsight, Google will almost certainly prefer to offer a more advanced flavor of Gemini atop its own Pixel phones and software tools than what a Gemini skeleton behind Siri can accomplish on Apple's hardware and services. Another drawback of handing over the foundational AI reins of Siri to Gemini would mean we would never get to see what Apple's own AI efforts would have looked like. The company is already facing the exodus of top AI talent, and it certainly won't be a morale booster if Apple simply leases the AI model of a rival to power something as inherent to the brand's identity as Siri. After all, Apple kicked off the AI assistant revolution with Siri. It would be a bitter pill to swallow for fans to see it piggybacking atop a tech that is already available across Google's ecosystem, and integrated within a whole universe of third-party software products, as well.

Tim Cook provides update on next-gen Siri development - 9to5Mac

During Apple's earnings call with investors yesterday, Apple CEO Tim Cook provided a (vague) update on Apple's work on the next-generation version of Siri. The Apple CEO assured investors that the company is "making good progress" on the more personalized version of Siri ahead of a launch "next year." This is essentially the same thing Cook said during Apple's earnings last quarter, but this time he did make sure to specifically call out the "next year" timeline. The continued confirmation that the features are on track to launch next year is reassuring. After all, Apple has burned us on Siri timelines before. Cook also took the time to tout all of the AI features Apple has shipped, including new ones this year like Workout Buddy for Apple Watch: With Apple intelligence, we've introduced dozens of new features that are powerful, intuitive, private, and deeply integrated into the things people do every day. Features like Live Translation, which help users communicate across languages in real time, and Visual Intelligence, which opens new ways to learn about and explore the world. We also introduced Workout Buddy, a new experience that uses AI to provide personalized, motivational insights based on a user's workout data and fitness history. And these join so many others from cleanup and photos and new image creation tools to powerful writing tools. We're also seeing developers take advantage of our on-device foundation models to create entirely new experiences for users around the world. Cook's comments this quarter follow a Bloomberg report which said there are already "concerns from people testing iOS 26.4" inside Apple about the performance of the next-generation Siri. As it stands now, Apple is reportedly aiming to release the new version of Siri as part of iOS 26.4. Whether or not that timeline shifts at all remains to be seen. More on Apple's AI predicament and related color from yesterday's earnings call can be found in our separate story on the topic.

Apple will pay $1 billion per year to Google for Siri's new brain

TL;DR: Apple plans to pay Google $1 billion annually for access to the 1.2 trillion-parameter Gemini AI model to power a major Siri upgrade, surpassing its current 150 billion-parameter system. The integration aims to enhance Siri's AI capabilities, with Apple also developing in-house models for future use. It was only recently that we heard Apple is currently in discussions with Google to gain access to Gemini and use it to upgrade Siri. Now, a figure has been thrown out, and it isn't small at all. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a known Apple insider with an impeccable track record of knowing what the Cupertino company is up to before it's public, Apple is preparing to pay Google $1 billion per year for access to Gemini, which will then make the AI responsible for generating summaries and performing other AI-related tasks. Gurman writes that Apple will use a custom Gemini model and run it on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, while also using in-house AI models to power some of Siri's other features. The Bloomberg reporter writes that the Gemini-Siri integration will be powered by a 1.2 trillion parameter model, which drastically exceeds the 150 billion parameter model that is currently powering Apple Intelligence. For those who don't know, Apple is extremely far behind in the race to integrate its products with an AI that is on par with competing AI platforms such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. Moreover, the company marketed Apple Intelligence for its previous generation of iPhone, but ended up delaying the most sought-after feature, an improved Siri. According to Apple's CEO Tim Cook, the new Siri is on track to arrive in Spring next year, and now it seems Google's Gemini will mostly power it. Gurman writes that Apple will continue to develop its own in-house AI models that it might eventually use to replace Gemini.

Apple may pay Google $1B yearly to boost Siri

Apple is nearing a deal with Google to pay approximately $1 billion annually for a custom version of Google's Gemini AI model, which will power an overhaul of the Siri voice assistant, according to a Bloomberg report. Apple has historically developed its own AI technology in-house. The company intends to integrate Google's custom model as an interim measure until its proprietary AI achieves sufficient capability to support a series of planned features for the voice assistant. This arrangement marks a departure from Apple's self-reliant approach to AI development. The custom Gemini model features 1.2 trillion parameters, a metric that quantifies the software's complexity and performance potential. In comparison, Apple's existing cloud-based Apple Intelligence model operates with 150 billion parameters. This makes the Google model approximately eight times more complex than Apple's current offering, enabling enhanced functionality for the Siri upgrade. Earlier this year, Apple assessed AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic as potential options. The company conducted tests on models from these providers alongside Google's. Following this evaluation process, Apple selected Google's Gemini for the Siri integration. Bloomberg indicates that the revamped Siri is scheduled for release in the spring of next year. With the launch several months in the future, the development timeline remains subject to potential adjustments based on ongoing progress.

Apple Intelligence could soon integrate more AI apps beyond ChatGPT -- here's what Tim Cook said

Tim Cook says Apple wants more than just ChatGPT integration in Apple Intelligence Apple Intelligence on recent iPhones, iPads and Macs could soon be powered up with additional services beyond ChatGPT, currently the only direct integration of another company's AI product in Apple Intelligence. Cook confirmed this in a quote from the latest Apple investor call (published by CNBC): "Our intention is to integrate with more people over time." It's noteworthy to see Apple publicly admit it's still interested in such partnerships. But we must keep in mind that nothing concrete has been confirmed yet. Google Gemini was mentioned as a potential future integration option, both by Apple and Google's own leadership. Gemini has even been tipped to underpin the revised Siri assistant that Apple's been struggling to launch since its initial announcement in summer of 2024. Plus, there's evidence in the latest macOS Tahoe 26.1 beta that Apple is working on supporting MCP, AI lab Anthropic's system for AI tool interoperation. Apple getting more AI services bolted into iOS is a smart play on a couple of levels. AI fans are already using services like Gemini and Claude. Having these more directly accessible would be a popular move. Also, since Apple has had a hard time developing in-house tools, it allows iPhones' on-board capabilities to better match up to top AI Android phones like the Pixel 10 series or Galaxy S25 series. During the same investor call, Apple also repeated its claim that its fully Apple Intelligence-enhanced Siri was coming in 2026, although without a specific launch date or window given. We're keen to see if Apple's promised features like Personal Context and on-screen awareness actually make it to users' devices in the form they were originally promised. If they do, we can chalk it up to a case of "better late than never" after Apple overpromised at WWDC last year. If not, then these partnership intentions could have even greater importance. Previous rumors place the launch of what's unofficially known as "Siri 2.0" in spring next year, as part of the iOS 26.4 update. But as other iOS updates appear, we'll keep you updated with what's changing, and what else Apple says about adding more third-party AI to Apple Intelligence.

Apple rumored to 'lean' on Gemini for Siri's big AI upgrade - here are 5 reasons why every iPhone user should want that

Apple has reportedly chosen Google Gemini to power the upgraded AI-powered Siri expected to launch in March/April next year. The news comes from top insider Mark Gurman, who said, "Apple is betting heavily on the new Siri, which will lean on Google's Gemini model and introduce features like AI-powered web search." Gurman added, "Apple is paying Google to create a custom Gemini-based model that can run on its private cloud servers and help power Siri. Apple held a bake-off this year between Anthropic and Google, ultimately determining that the former offered a better model but that Google made more sense financially (partly due to the tech giants' preexisting search relationship)." That's incredibly exciting news for the future of Siri on iPhone, and while Gurman doesn't believe either company will "ever discuss this partnership publicly," or Siri will be flooded with Google services and Gemini features, it does mean " Siri will be powered by a model that can actually provide the AI features that users expect -- all with an Apple user interface." As TechRadar's Senior AI Writer, I test out all of the best AI models, and Google Gemini is up there with my favorite chatbots on the market. Apple's AI strategy has been underwhelming, to say the least, but reports of the Cupertino-based firm bringing in Google to superpower Apple Intelligence could be the best thing to happen to the iPhone in years. Here are five reasons why I really hope these rumors are true, and Apple adds Google Gemini to Siri. AI voice assistants are everywhere these days, yet we're still waiting for Apple to truly supercharge Siri with Apple Intelligence. While OpenAI's ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode is good, it falls short of Google's Gemini Live, which I believe is the best AI-powered voice assistant on smartphones at the moment. I like Gemini Live so much, in fact, that I've assigned the voice assistant to my iPhone Air's Action button, using it frequently instead of activating Siri on my device. If Apple is looking to power Siri through an AI model from another tech giant, then Gemini Live is proof that Google is the perfect partner to do so. Apple has a ready-made Siri replacement staring it in the face, and all it needs is some swanky branding and compliance with Apple's strict privacy vision. One of the best ways to use Gemini at the moment is by asking it questions based on your other Google services, such as Gmail and Google Calendar. Adding Gemini into Siri would allow iPhone users to ask questions about these incredibly popular services, taking us one step closer towards the AI personal assistant everyone hopes for. Considering the AI model is already able to tap into Google services, you'd expect it to be relatively easy for Apple and Google to offer similar abilities with Apple's most popular apps, such as Mail, Notes, and Calendar. When Apple revealed Apple Intelligence last year, Siri was able to listen to your requests and implement them across iOS. Gemini basically does that on Android already, so why not allow it to do the same on iPhone? The AI options available are endless, so having some parity between iPhone and Android would actually be a great thing for smartphone users. Think about it, Gemini powers the AI in the best flagship Android devices like the Samsung S25 and the Google Pixel 10. But what if a similar experience was bundled into every iPhone, just with a little bit more Apple polish? I'd love to use Gemini as my go-to AI assistant on my iPhone, and quite frankly, I already do. However, having it built into Siri would make it feel even more at home on iPhone, and best yet, for consumers, it means the switch to Android or vice versa, from an AI perspective, would be incredibly smooth. I don't know about you, but I'm bored of waiting for a new version of Siri that's capable of what I want from a voice assistant. Gemini works, and it's already good to go, so adding implementation into Siri and powering Apple's voice assistant with Google's hard work would mean an intelligent Siri sooner rather than later. Currently, I have no hope for an AI-powered Siri by the end of the year, and quite honestly, that's a real disappointment, considering I bought the iPhone 16 Pro Max last year with the promise of "AI for the rest of us." If Apple opted to use Gemini, we could get the AI Siri we've wanted for what feels like an eternity very soon, and that's only a good thing for Apple users who are getting impatient waiting for a voice assistant that knows what year it is. Google and Apple have been working together for a very long time, with Google Search as the default search engine on Safari. And quite honestly, even though there's still skepticism towards AI I think it's easier to continue to use Google on a daily basis rather than opt for OpenAI's ChatGPT. Currently ChatGPT is integrated into Siri, but using OpenAI's chatbot requires you to send information through the company's servers and it leads to an incredibly slow process which feels almost as bad as using Siri natively instead. Considering how smooth the Google implementation in Apple products has been over the years, I think a Gemini-powered Siri would work flawlessly, and ultimately, lead to a much smarter Siri that's finally powered by AI.

Apple Strikes $1 Billion Deal With Google to Overhaul Siri Using Gemini - Phandroid

Apple is reportedly finalizing a deal to pay Google approximately $1 billion per year for a custom version of its Gemini AI model to power the long-awaited Siri overhaul. The partnership marks a significant shift for a company that traditionally prioritizes self-reliance. According to Bloomberg, Apple will use Google's 1.2 trillion parameter Gemini model to handle Siri's summarization and planning functions. Parameters essentially measure how much information an AI model can process and understand. More parameters generally mean a smarter AI, though training quality also matters. For context, Apple's current cloud-based model uses only 150 billion parameters, making Google's version roughly eight times more powerful. The Gemini-powered Siri is expected to launch as early as spring 2026, bringing smarter, more context-aware responses. These capabilities help the voice assistant synthesize information and manage complex tasks. However, some Siri features will still run on Apple's in-house AI models. The AI model will run on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, ensuring user data stays within Apple's ecosystem without being shared with Google. This approach maintains Apple's privacy standards while leveraging Google's advanced AI capabilities. Apple had previously evaluated AI models from OpenAI and Anthropic before choosing Google's Gemini. According to reports, Apple previously considered partnering with OpenAI or Anthropic for the Siri overhaul. However, pricing and the scale of Google's model ultimately tipped the decision in Google's favor. Anthropic's fees reportedly exceeded $1.5 billion annually, making Google's offer more financially sustainable. The partnership comes after years of Siri struggles. Apple has repeatedly delayed promised Siri upgrades, with the company pulling ads about improved Siri features when they failed to materialize on schedule. Additionally, Apple employees have expressed concerns about whether the new Siri will be ready for its 2026 launch date. Despite this partnership, Apple isn't giving up developing its own AI technology. The company is reportedly working on a 1 trillion parameter cloud-based model that could be ready as early as 2026, potentially replacing the Gemini-based solution in the future. This deal appears to be a stopgap measure while Apple refines its in-house AI capabilities. Google currently pays Apple around $20 billion annually to remain the default search engine on Apple devices. Now Apple will pay Google $1 billion yearly for its AI technology, a somewhat quiet admission of defeat (for now).

Tim Cook says Siri's Apple Intelligence upgrade could finally reach your iPhone next year

There's still no release date, but the Siri overhaul is reportedly on track for a 2026 debut. What's happened? Apple's CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that the revamped Siri experience will reach users next year. First announced during the WWDC 2024 keynote, this new version of Siri will offer more personalized responses, feature on-screen awareness, and support integrated app controls. It was initially expected to roll out alongside other Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18, but the company pushed the rollout earlier this year. In an interview with CNN, Cook has now said that the development is on track for a 2026 release. Why is this important? The Siri upgrade was among the most anticipated Apple Intelligence features when Apple first previewed it last year. However, the delays have left many users disappointed. Apple is facing several class action lawsuits over the delayed AI features, but news of the rollout timeline should give iPhone users some hope. While the company hasn't shared a specific release date, leaks suggest the features could arrive sometime in spring next year. Recommended Videos Why should I care? If you bought into Apple's marketing and are still waiting on the Siri overhaul, you can expect to finally get your hands on it in a few months. Apple has claimed that the revamped version will offer users a significantly better experience by offering better contextual responses and deeper app integration. The update could bring Apple's voice assistant up to par with Google's Gemini. What's next? It remains to be seen whether Apple can keep its promise and release all the advertised Apple Intelligence Siri features next year. Previous reports suggest that this may not be the case, and some improvements may not arrive until 2027.

Apple's Revamped Siri Could Be Equipped With This AI Model From Google

Apple is expected to launch a significantly upgraded version of Siri, equipped with Apple Intelligence, in 2026. Now, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that Google's Gemini AI will partly power the revamped Siri. The update will likely match the debut of Apple's smart home display, along with updated versions of the Apple TV and HomePod mini. The Siri reboot will reportedly align with the launch of iOS 26.4. The new Siri was first unveiled at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) last year, but the rollout had been delayed. Apple Relying on Google to Develop Custom Gemini AI Model for Siri In the latest version of his Power On newsletter, the journalist writes that the new Siri will "lean on Google's Gemini model" and introduce features like AI-powered web search. The iPhone maker is reportedly paying Google to develop a custom version of its Gemini AI model that will run on Apple's private cloud infrastructure and enhance Siri's capabilities. Earlier this year, Apple evaluated both Anthropic and Google's models. While Anthropic's model performed better, Apple reportedly chose Google, likely because of their pre-existing business ties, including the search deal. This collaboration doesn't mean Siri will adopt Gemini features. "It just means Siri will be powered by a model that can actually provide the AI features that users expect -- all with an Apple user interface", noted Gurman. Apple's efforts to enhance its AI capabilities through the new Siri voice assistant may serve as a foundation for the company's expansive smart home security ecosystem, likely including cameras, expected to launch later next year. The Cupertino-based company could also debut the first smart display, available in both speaker-based and wall-mounted variants, during the March-April timeframe. The Apple TV and HomePod mini are also said to be in the works. The iOS 26.4 update, expected to arrive around March or April 2026 with Siri upgrades. This will mark the most substantial changes to Apple's voice assistant in years. Apple is likely to preview the iOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27, and other major software updates at its WWDC in June next year. The new versions are expected to heavily emphasise enhancements to Apple Intelligence and the company's expanding AI roadmap. Apple introduced its enhanced Siri and AI features at WWDC 2024, initially planning to release them with iOS 18.4 for the iPhone 16 lineup. However, the rollout has faced repeated delays.

Cook: Apple to 'integrate with more' AI providers beyond OpenAI - 9to5Mac

Alongside today's Q4 earnings conference call, Apple CEO Tim Cook also spoke with CNBC, where he addressed Apple's predicament in the AI field. Here's what he said. When Apple announced its partnership with OpenAI as part of the Apple Intelligence toolset, it wasn't long before Craig Federighi, the company's Senior Vice President of Software, confirmed that their plans included "doing integrations with different models like Google Gemini in the future." His remarks came at the height of Google's antitrust woes, and the expectation was that Google and Apple were possibly waiting on the outcome of the case to move forward with an announcement. Cut to the present, and despite Google's overall positive outcome, Apple has yet to confirm a partnership, either with Google or any other AI provider. Behind the scenes, Apple has been laying the groundwork for MCP support on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. MCP, or Model Context Protocol, is an open standard created by Anthropic that allows interoperability between AI models, and user-facing tools and applications. Additionally, the company has been working on expanding support for third-party models on Image Playground beyond ChatGPT. However, Apple has yet to announce any concrete plans to expand its partnerships beyond the ChatGPT integration with Siri and its Writing Tools feature. When asked about it by CNBC, Cook didn't share any specifics, but claimed that Apple's "intention is to integrate with more people over time". Cook's remarks follow a series of forward-looking statements made by Apple to make up for its AI fumbles. While it is true that company has been delivering on useful machine learning-based features, such as car crash detection, AirPods live translation, high blood pressure alerts onthe Apple Watch, expectations have been mounting for the company to deliver on what the general public has grown more accustomed to calling AI, which are interactive, LLM-based products, some of which can act on the user's behalf. In addition to missing and extending deadlines for new AI products and features, Apple has also been facing a relentless talent exodus, with multiple AI leaders and research engineers defecting to companies such as Meta, OpenAI, Anthropic, and others. Although welcome, Cook's limited claim that Apple's "intention is to integrate with more people over time" does little to reassure concerns about the company's short-term AI roadmap. In fact, it serves as a reminder that Apple has yet to announce any tangible progress or near-term plans, exactly three months after calling a company-wide meeting to reassure its employees that AI "sort of ours to grab," and that Apple would "make the investment to do it." Do you think Apple is anywhere close to announcing a new AI partnership? Let us know in the comments.

Here's how much Apple will reportedly pay Google for Gemini to save Siri | Stuff

Google Gemini technology will reportedly help Apple realise its vision for Apple Intelligence, but it's going to cost a pretty penny Apple is reportedly about to ink a $1 billion a year deal with Google to power it's long held ambitions to turn Siri into an Artificial Intelligence powerhouse on smartphones, Mac computers, and beyond. A new Bloomberg report says the previously rumoured agreement is now in its final stages. The deal that would give Apple access to a custom version of Google Gemini. The model would dwarf the current capacity of Apple Intelligence, the report says. The 1.2 trillion parameter would almost be ten times more powerful than the 150 billion parameter model Apple currently offers users. "The move would vastly expand the system's power and its ability to process complex data and understand context," Bloomberg reports. However, we're unlikely to hear a big song and dance around the partnership, according to the report, with Apple planing to treat Google Gemini as a "behind-the-scenes" technology rather than adding a "powered by Gemini" label, for instance. Perhaps that's because turning to Google would be an admission from Apple that its efforts to transform Siri into an assistant befitting the GenAI era have thus far failed. This agreement wouldn't mean Apple is giving up entirely, the report says, as the company still plans to develop the technology needed to power its long-term AI vision. In the short term, it certainly feels like a necessary step to avoid being completely left behind in the AI race. Previously, the company has indefinitely delayed announced Apple Intelligence features that would understand the context of users requests by consulting stock iPhone apps like Messenger, Mail and Calendar. The Google agreement would be an expensive stop gap that might allow Apple to continue it's work to catch up in the background without further delays in realising its vision for Siri. The company is already reportedly planning a new version of Siri for iOS 26.4 next year, but it's not clear if Google's technology will be in place by that point and will be charged with powering that update.

Apple could let Google take over Siri in an upcoming brain transplant

TL;DR: Apple plans to enhance Siri by integrating advanced AI models like Google's Gemini to compete with OpenAI and Anthropic. This upgrade aims to enable Siri to access personal user data for more personalized responses, addressing previous delays and improving its capabilities beyond current voice assistants. Apple is yet to release the next generation of Siri that it marketed with the previous generation of iPhone, and now we are hearing the Cupertino company will be leaning on Google's Gemini AI model to improve the voice assistant. Apple's next generation of Siri is meant to help the company catch up to the likes of OpenAI and other AI companies that have created products such as ChatGPT, which far exceed the capabilities of Siri. Apple has been lagging behind in the integration of AI into its products and services, and in order to catch up to its competitors, the company is looking to integrate already established models such as Google's Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, and OpenAI's ChatGPT. Notably, ChatGPT is already available on Apple's AI-compatible devices, but the OpenAI product isn't fully integrated into the iPhone, meaning the service isn't accessing personal user data such as contacts, messages, etc. For Apple to fulfill what it used as a selling point for the previous generation of iPhone, the selected AI will give Siri the power to access personal user data, broadening the capabilities of the voice assistant and enabling users to request much more refined information from it. One example that Apple used as an advertisement, which has since been deleted, for the now delayed upgraded Siri was Bella Ramsey asking the voice assistant to provide the name of someone they had a meeting with at a cafe a couple of months ago. Siri then proceeded to go through the user's personal data, such as the Calendar app, and pull up the name before the person came over to talk to Ramsey. Now, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, a known Apple insider, has reported that Apple is still several weeks away from making a decision on which AI company it will be going with to power the new Siri, with the Bloomberg reporter writing Apple is currently in early discussions about using Google Gemini. These discussions come after Apple explored potential partnerships with Anthropic and OpenAI.

Tim Cook says Siri's delayed AI upgrade is finally on track for 2026

Apple first announced the new AI-powered Siri at WWDC 2024 as part of its Apple Intelligence suite. Apple CEO Tim Cook stated during the company's October 30 earnings call that "good progress" is being made on the long-delayed artificial intelligence upgrades for Siri. The advanced features, which were postponed in March 2025 due to technical challenges, are now expected to launch in the spring of 2026, likely with an iOS 26.4 update. The AI-powered Siri capabilities were first announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2024 and were heavily promoted as a key feature of Apple Intelligence during the iPhone 16 marketing, a move that led to multiple class-action lawsuits over the delay. The upgrades are set to include personalized context awareness, allowing Siri to understand on-screen content and answer complex, multi-step questions using data from a user's emails, messages, and calendar. During the call, Cook also confirmed Apple's intention to integrate other third-party AI models beyond its existing partnership with ChatGPT, although he did not provide specifics. This follows August reports from Bloomberg that Apple was in discussions with Google to use its Gemini AI model. The AI update came as Apple reported a record quarterly revenue of $102.5 billion, an 8% year-over-year increase. Cook projected double-digit iPhone growth for the holiday quarter, driven by demand for the new iPhone 17 series, which includes basic Apple Intelligence features but does not yet have the advanced Siri capabilities.

Apple to use Google's AI model to run new Siri, Bloomberg News reports

After an evaluation, the companies are finalizing a deal that would have Apple pay about $1 billion a year for access to Google's technology, the report said. Apple plans to use a 1.2 trillion-parameter artificial intelligence model developed by Alphabet's Google to help power a revamp of its Siri voice assistant, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. After an evaluation, the companies are finalizing a deal that would have Apple pay about $1 billion a year for access to Google's technology, the report said. The iPhone maker will use Google's Gemini model as a stopgap until its own systems are ready, Bloomberg reported. The model's 1.2 trillion parameters, a measure of AI model complexity, would dwarf Apple's current systems. Siri has historically been less capable than Alexa and Google Assistant at handling complex, multi-step requests and integrating with third-party apps. Google had no comment, while Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The deal is separate from earlier discussions about integrating Gemini directly into Siri as a chatbot, the report said. The partnership will not bring Google AI search into Apple's operating systems. In March, Apple said AI improvements to Siri would be delayed until 2026, and did not give a reason for the setback. Rivals have rushed to add AI features to their voice assistants, with Google adding its Gemini model to its assistant last year and Amazon rolling out an AI-driven overhaul of the Alexa assistant earlier this year. Apple shook up its executive ranks to get its AI efforts back on track after months of delays, resulting in Mike Rockwell taking charge of Siri, as CEO Tim Cook lost confidence in AI head John Giannandrea's ability to execute on product development, Bloomberg had reported in March.

Tim Cook Promises New Siri in 2026: 3 Reasons to Stay Skeptical - Phandroid

Apple's finally putting a date on its Siri overhaul. Speaking to MSNBC, CEO Tim Cook that the much-anticipated AI-powered version of Siri is on track for a Siri 2026 launch. The update is expected to introduce advanced personalization features through Apple Intelligence. This updated assistant will feature greater context awareness, on-screen understanding, and the ability to take actions within and across apps. The upgrade was originally planned for an earlier release but got delayed after Apple ran into quality issues during testing. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple execs Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak confirmed the delay, citing "ongoing quality issues" during their post-WWDC interviews. The update is now expected around spring 2026 with iOS 26.4, continuing Apple's focus on privacy-preserving AI that operates mainly on-device with secure cloud processing for complex tasks. Sounds impressive on paper, right? Not so fast. Here are three reasons we're staying skeptical about Apple's latest Siri promises. Let's be honest about Apple Intelligence. It's terrible. Apple Intelligence has received poor reviews and consistently fails at basic tasks that Google Assistant and Galaxy AI handle easily. If Apple Intelligence is the foundation powering the new Siri, we should probably lower our expectations significantly. The current implementation feels half-baked and rushed, often producing nonsensical results or simply not working at all. Apple has hemorrhaged AI talent throughout 2025, with key executives leaving for Meta and other competitors offering better pay and more autonomy. The company lost 12 key AI team members this year alone, including executives directly responsible for transforming Siri into a ChatGPT-like assistant. When your best people are jumping ship, how confident should we be in the product they're leaving behind? Apple admitted AI shortcomings earlier this year after heavily marketing Siri upgrades as a selling point for the iPhone 16 series. The company even pulled ads showing off the "more personal" Siri when features didn't materialize on schedule. This isn't the first time Apple has overpromised and underdelivered on Siri improvements. At this point, we'll believe it when we see it actually working on our devices in 2026.

Gene Munster Says Apple Scored 'Deal Of The Year' With $1 Billion Google Gemini Partnership For Siri -- While Still Pocketing $20 Billion From Search - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

On Wednesday, Deepwater Asset Management's managing partner Gene Munster said that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) "scored deal of the year." His statement came after it was reported that Cupertino plans to pay $1 billion/year to Alphabet Inc.'s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google to help power Siri's much-awaited overhaul. Apple Reportedly Plans To Pay $1 Billion Annually To Use Gemini AI Model Earlier in the day, Bloomberg columnist Mark Gurman reported that Cupertino intends to pay for an advanced AI model developed by Google, citing people with knowledge of the matter. This model with 1.2 trillion parameters will help Apple's major Siri update. For the updated Siri, which could launch next Spring, the tech giant has previously weighed in several other third-party models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. However, Apple ultimately chose to go with Google's Gemini. Apple and Google did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments. See Also: Michael Burry Is Super-Bearish On Palantir -- With 5 Million Puts Munster: Apple Got A Bargain With Google Gemini Following the publication of the report, Munster took to X, formerly Twitter, and said that while Google reportedly invested more than $100 million to build Gemini, Apple gets access for a fraction of the cost. On the other hand, Apple gets $20 billion per year from Google for "search placement." Moreover, Apple doesn't pay ChatGPT-maker anything because "that relationship seems to fall into the 'you get what you pay for' camp," Munster stated. If the report is true, Munster said, "Apple scored the deal of the year." Apple Tops Q4 Estimates With $102.47 Billion Revenue Last month, Apple reported fourth-quarter results. The company reported a revenue of $102.47 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $102.17 billion. Earnings came in at $1.85 per share, also topping expectations of $1.76 per share. Price Action: Apple's stock closed at $270.14 on Wednesday, up 0.037% for the day, but slipped 0.11% to $269.85 in after-hours trading, according to Benzinga Pro. The stock ranks strong in Quality and Growth according to Benzinga's Edge Stock Rankings, maintaining a positive price trend across short, medium and long-term periods. Click here to explore detailed insights on the stock, its peers and competitors. Photo: DenPhotos / Shutterstock Read More: Palantir's CTO Shyam Sankar Warns US Might No Longer Frighten Its Adversaries: 'We've Lost Deterrence As A Nation' AAPLApple Inc$269.85-0.07%OverviewGOOGAlphabet Inc$285.572.70%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$285.382.82%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Apple Turns to Google's Gemini in a $1 Billion Deal to Power the Next-Gen Siri

The new AI-powered Siri is slated to launch sometime next spring. Apple is reportedly set to close an estimated $1 billion annual deal with its rival, Google, to use a custom version of the Gemini AI model to power the next version of Siri. Apple is lagging behind major companies in the AI race so this might help the Cupertino giant to make a comeback. This detail comes from Bloomberg, which reports that Apple is turning to Google's Gemini as a temporary solution until its own AI model catches up with the rest of the industry. Once ready, it will be used to power a host of new Apple Intelligence features which the company has in the pipeline. For context, the custom version of Google's Gemini AI model has about 1.2 trillion parameters, which far exceeds Apple's current cloud-based AI model which are trained on 150 billion parameters. This shows that Gemini can handle far complex tasks and commands compared to Apple's in-house model. Typically, the Cupertino Giant prefers to make things on its own, but it has been lagging in the AI race behind several major companies and startups. Apple had plans to acquire Perplexity, and even held talks with OpenAI, but it seems like Gemini is the best fit the company has found for its AI-powered Siri, which is scheduled to come out sometime next spring. However, there is still some time till then, and Apple's plan could still change if the deal doesn't go through.

Apple Will Use A 1.2 Trillion-Parameter, Very Expensive AI Model From Google As A Crutch For Siri

Apple is increasingly relying on Google's crutches to power its revamped Siri in the cloud. And we now know some of the specs of the custom Gemini model that is expected to bolster the new Siri. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is now reporting that Apple is planning to use a gigantic, albeit tailored, Gemini AI model to power its upcoming revamped Siri. With 1.2 trillion parameters under its belt, the customized Gemini model would "dwarf" the 1.5 billion-parameter, bespoke AI model that Apple currently uses to power Siri in the cloud. Apple tested OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude LLMs before settling on a customized version of Google's Gemini to process the more complicated user requests that are to be offloaded to the cloud under Apple's Private Cloud Compute framework, which will safeguard user privacy by using encrypted and stateless data. According to Gurman, Apple will pay Google around $1 billion per year to use Google's proprietary AI technology, as per the terms of the agreement that is currently in the process of being finalized. This forms merely the latest tranche in the ongoing transactional relationship between the two tech giants. After all, Google already pays Apple $20 billion per year for ensuring default search engine privileges within the Safari browser and across other Apple services. Coming back, Apple has even given an internal codename Glenwood to its ongoing efforts to fix Siri, largely with the help of third-party models. These efforts are currently being spearheaded by Vision Pro headset creator, Mike Rockwell, and software engineering chief, Craig Federighi. Do note that the upcoming Siri revamp will have three major components: Under Apple's evolving architecture, the customized Gemini model from Google will handle Siri's query planner and summarizer functions, leaving the Knowledge search system to Apple's on-device LLMs. Critically, this partnership will not place Google's search AI at an apex position within Apple's sprawling ecosystem. Of course, Apple does not intend to use Google's Gemini model indefinitely, and is still working on developing an in-house solution. In the interim though, the Gemini model will function as a critical crutch for Apple to launch the revamped Siri with iOS 26.4, bringing in-app actions, personal context awareness, and on-screen awareness to its bespoke voice assistant.

Apple CEO Confirms Partnership Plans for AI Services Beyond OpenAI

A revamped Siri with advanced AI capabilities could launch next yead Apple has intentions of integrating with more artificial intelligence (AI) companies beyond OpenAI, CEO Tim Cook said in a conversation with a publication on Thursday. The Cupertino-based tech giant has long been rumoured to form partnerships with AI firms to have their large language models (LLMs) power features on iPhone and other Apple devices. The Apple executive also hinted towards a release timeline of Siri with more advanced capabilities, which is yet to arrive after its 2024 showcase. Apple to Form More AI Partnerships Following Apple's fiscal Q4 2025 earnings call, CEO Tim Cook sat down with CNBC to share information about the company's plans. When asked about any concrete plans for expanding partnerships beyond OpenAI, Cook highlighted that Apple's "intention is to integrate with more people over time". However, the executive did not delve into any specifics. At present, the Cupertino-based tech giant leverages its proprietary LLMs, along with OpenAI's ChatGPT, to power Apple Intelligence features like Siri, Visual Intelligence, and Writing Tools on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Following the Apple-OpenAI partnership announcement in 2024, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Craig Federighi claimed that it would also offer integration with models like Google's Gemini "in the future". And while this integration is yet to arrive, he company has been rumoured to be taking steps to ensure it happens. In September, it was reported that Apple was bringing Model Context Protocol (MCP) support for its devices. Created by Anthropic, MCP is an open standard that enables interoperability between AI models, public-facing tools, and apps. The company was said to offer MCP support via App Intents to allow apps to share actions and features with AI platforms and agents. Revamped Siri on the Way During the conversation, the Apple CEO also confirmed that the revamped Siri with advanced capabilities will be released next year, corroborating the previously leaked timeline. The AI-based voice assistant was due to receive major upgrades in 2024 with iOS 18, but most of those plans were shelved as it fell behind competitors in the AI race. Earlier this year, it was also reported that Apple was contemplating moving away from its in-house models for Siri's AI-powered features and leveraging Anthropic or OpenAI's AI models instead. These would be used by Siri to deliver human-like responses, the ability to integrate with first-party and third-party apps, and the ability to perform more complex tasks that span multiple interfaces.

Apple Intelligence about to get its act together with Google's help - report | Stuff

Apple Intelligent has had a mixed start to like but it seems Apple has a cohesive plan with Google's Gemini coming to the rescue After a stuttering launch of its Apple Intelligence AI assistant, Apple appears to be on track to gain ground in 2026, according to reports over the weekend. The well-connected Apple reporter Mark Gurman believes Apple has decided to let Google's advanced Gemini models do some of the heavy lifting to help Siri achieve some of the long-promised gains Apple is yet to deliver on though it's own Apple Intelligence efforts. Reporting for Bloomberg, Gurman's sources say a "custom Gemini model will run on Apple's Private Cloud compute servers" that would help deliver answers to those deeply contextual requests Apple announced and then pushed back indefinitely amid question marks over its capabilities to build such a feature. The requests involved simply asking for an ETA of a family member's flight without having to trawl through the requisite text conversation. Google's models could help fulfil this promise and, because the feature could run on Apple's recently announced on-device Foundational Models, user data would stay off the cloud. Gurman also reports Gemini might power the knowledge base that has constantly had Siri scrambling for 'here's what I found on the web' results rather than providing native answers. That update could happen as soon as iOS 26.4, which is likely to arrive next spring if usual precedent is followed. Furthermore, Bloomberg reports, Apple is planning "major updates" to Apple Intelligence in next year's iOS 27 (etc.) releases. The company is also planning on detailing what Gurman refers to as the "broader" AI plan. He writes: "On the software front, we'll see iOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 and other operating systems unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June. They'll be accompanied by major updates to Apple Intelligence and the broader AI strategy." It has been a stuttering and often controversial start to life for Apple Intelligence which has hurt the company's reputation and left it behind key competitors for the next evolution of technology.

Apple to use Google's AI model to run new Siri: Report

Apple is set to integrate Google's powerful Gemini AI model into its Siri voice assistant. This move aims to enhance Siri's capabilities, addressing past limitations. The partnership involves a significant annual payment to Google. This integration is a temporary measure until Apple's own AI systems are ready. The deal signifies a major step in Apple's AI development strategy. Apple plans to use a 1.2 trillion-parameter artificial intelligence model developed by Alphabet's Google to help power a revamp of its Siri voice assistant, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. After an evaluation, the companies are finalizing a deal that would have Apple pay about $1 billion a year for access to Google's technology, the report said. The iPhone maker will use Google's Gemini model as a stopgap until its own systems are ready, Bloomberg reported. The model's 1.2 trillion parameters, a measure of AI model complexity, would dwarf Apple's current systems. Siri has historically been less capable than Alexa and Google Assistant at handling complex, multi-step requests and integrating with third-party apps. Google had no comment, while Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. The deal is separate from earlier discussions about integrating Gemini directly into Siri as a chatbot, the report said. The partnership will not bring Google AI search into Apple's operating systems. In March, Apple said AI improvements to Siri would be delayed until 2026, and did not give a reason for the setback. Rivals have rushed to add AI features to their voice assistants, with Google adding its Gemini model to its assistant last year and Amazon rolling out an AI-driven overhaul of the Alexa assistant earlier this year. Apple shook up its executive ranks to get its AI efforts back on track after months of delays, resulting in Mike Rockwell taking charge of Siri, as CEO Tim Cook lost confidence in AI head John Giannandrea's ability to execute on product development, Bloomberg had reported in March.

Apple Seeks Google's Help in Long-Awaited Siri AI Update | PYMNTS.com

That deal would give Apple access to a powerful 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence (AI) model from Google, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday (Nov. 5), citing sources with knowledge of the matter. After an evaluation period, the two tech giants are now finalizing an agreement, those sources told Bloomberg. Apple, the report added, is counting on Google's assistance to overhaul the technology powering its Siri voice assistant, aiming to roll out new features next year. The report also notes that the Google model's 1.2 trillion parameters, which are a measure of the AI software's complexity, would greatly exceed the level of the models Apple has now. The Apple model has 150 billion parameters, the report added, meaning Google's tech would greatly expand the system's power and its ability to glean context and process complex data. Apple has considered working with other companies to help update Siri, testing models from OpenAI and Anthropic before landing on Google, Bloomberg added. The iPhone maker is reportedly hoping to use Google's tech as a stopgap until its own models become powerful enough. The new version of Siri is on pace to debut in the spring of 2026. PYMNTS has contacted both Apple and Google for comment but has not yet gotten a reply. Writing about Siri in March, PYMNTS noted that the AI assistant, revolutionary when it debuted in 2011, has since fallen behind comparable offerings from Google, Amazon and Samsung in terms of incorporating advanced AI features. In an interview with PYMNTS earlier this year, Siri's original co-designer Luc Julia posited that an obsession with perfection was hindering Apple's efforts to introduce an upgraded Siri faster. "They are falling behind because of this fear of not being perfect," said Julia, who is now the chief science officer for French automaker Renault. In other AI news, PYMNTS wrote Wednesday about the move by artificial intelligence companies away from the belief that bigger models were automatically better.

Apple Throws In The Towel, Asks Google To Design A Custom Gemini LLM For Siri

Apple appears to have conceded defeat apropos its in-house Siri revamp strategy, and is now leaning on Google to design a custom Gemini-based Large Language Model (LLM) to power the new Siri in the cloud. The legendary Apple tipster, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, reported in his latest 'Power On' newsletter that the Cupertino giant seems to have thrown in the proverbial towel when it comes to creating an in-house AI model to power the revamped Siri's upcoming features, all couched under the Apple Intelligence banner. Instead, Apple is now reportedly paying Google to create a custom Gemini-based AI model for its Private Cloud Compute framework, where relatively simple AI tasks are performed by using computational resources of the device itself, while the more complex tasks are offloaded to Apple's private cloud servers using encrypted and stateless data. Do note that the upcoming Siri revamp will have three major components: Under Apple Intelligence's evolving architecture, all on-device AI processing will leverage either Apple's bespoke foundational models or integrated third-party models such as ChatGPT. Complex queries, however, would be offloaded to Apple's private servers using encrypted and stateless data to maintain user privacy, where Google's custom Gemini-based AI model would process those queries. This comes as Bloomberg reported back in August that Apple engineers were struggling to ensure that Siri performed adequately across apps, and in critical scenarios such as banking. With this new approach, Apple appears to be trying to compensate for critical lacunae within its own AI expertise. Of course, the Cupertino giant is still expected to market the revamped Siri as a core Apple technology, which uses Apple's backend servers and a bespoke interface. Do note that Apple has been working to introduce a number of key Apple Intelligence features with its Spring 2026 iOS update (iOS 26.4 most likely). These include:

Apple to invest $1 billion yearly in Google Gemini AI for Siri revamp: Report

Apple is finalizing a multi-year agreement with Google to integrate its most advanced AI model, Gemini, into Siri's next major upgrade. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is expected to pay around $1 billion per year for access to the 1.2 trillion parameter Gemini model, marking a significant leap from the 150 billion parameter system currently powering Apple Intelligence's cloud-based features. After evaluating other models -- including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude -- Apple selected Google's Gemini earlier this year. The agreement, now nearing completion, will grant Apple back-end access to Gemini's capabilities while keeping Google's role largely behind the scenes. The upcoming Siri aims to deliver more natural, multi-step, and context-aware conversations. Internally code-named Linwood, the project is part of a broader initiative called Glenwood, led by Mike Rockwell (creator of Vision Pro) and Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering. Key enhancements expected in the next-gen Siri include: While Gemini will manage advanced reasoning and cloud-based operations, Apple Intelligence will continue to handle lightweight, device-side tasks. To uphold its privacy standards, Apple will deploy Gemini on its Private Cloud Compute (PCC) infrastructure, ensuring that user data does not pass through Google's systems. Apple has already allocated dedicated AI server hardware to support the new Siri rollout. Although this partnership is substantial, it will operate entirely in the background -- unlike the Safari search deal that publicly made Google the default provider. Here, Google will serve solely as a back-end technology supplier, without direct visibility to end users. Apple views its reliance on Gemini as temporary while it accelerates work on its own large-scale model. The company's AI division is developing a 1 trillion parameter model that could reach consumer-level deployment as early as next year. Additional insights from Gurman's report: In China, where Google's services are restricted, Apple plans to launch a localized version of Siri powered by its own AI models combined with an Alibaba-developed filtering layer to meet regulatory standards. The company has also explored possible partnerships with Baidu for additional AI functions. The new Siri experience -- powered by Google's Gemini model -- is expected to debut in spring 2026 as part of the wider Apple Intelligence rollout. While the final framework may evolve, the initiative represents Apple's most significant step toward closing its AI gap with Google and OpenAI, paving the way for more capable and privacy-focused voice assistance across future iOS versions.

Tim Cook: The New Siri Under The Apple Intelligence Banner To Debut In 2026

Ever since Apple announced its AI strategy revamp under the Apple Intelligence banner, there is a perception that it has been struggling to maintain a swift pace with its lofty ambitions. There are increasing signs, however, that Apple is making some much-needed headway in this sphere, as per the tidbits gleaned from Apple's Q3 2025 Earnings Call. Do note that Apple has been working to introduce a number of key Apple Intelligence features with its Spring 2026 iOS update (iOS 26.4 most likely). These include: Of course, Apple Mac users can already enjoy most of these features, courtesy of the Sky app, which is basically an AI assistant for macOS that leverages the power of AI models in the following ways: Do note that OpenAI recently acquired Software Applications Incorporated, the company behind the Sky app. Apple's Tim Cook just revealed the following tidbits about Apple Intelligence and the new Siri: Coming to the topic at hand, Tim Cook just said that Apple is making "good progress" on the new Siri under the banner of Apple Intelligence, and that the revamped voice assistant remains on course for a 2026 launch. Do note that all is not smooth sailing for Apple Intelligence, however. Bloomberg reported back in August that Apple engineers were struggling to ensure that Siri performed adequately across apps, and in critical scenarios such as banking. And Ke Yang, who was appointed the head of Apple's Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI) team only weeks earlier, is now reportedly leaving for a lucrative stint at Meta Platforms Inc.

Is Apple Paying Google $1 Billion a Year to Integrate Gemini AI Into Next-Gen Siri?

Apple to Pay Google $1 Billion Annually to Power Siri With Gemini AI Tech behemoth Apple is likely to finalize a deal with Google, under which Apple will pay approximately $1 billion annually to license a tailor-made version of Google's Gemini AI model to integrate into its voice assistant, Siri. This indicates a fundamental shift in Apple's plans, as the company reportedly aims to surpass its own 'Apple Intelligence' system to remain competitive in the evolving AI landscape. It would be a major partnership between the two largest tech firms, potentially transforming Siri from a basic voice assistant to a more advanced, conversational, and context-sensitive AI companion.

Apple May Power Next-Gen Siri with Google's Gemini AI Boost

Apple has been internally testing two different versions of the new Siri-one entirely derived from Apple's AI models, and another that relies on Gemini. According to the report, Apple's internally developed model still lags behind expectations, making the company resort to Google's technology to fill the performance gap. During the WWDC 2024 event, Apple introduced its new product, Apple Intelligence, and presented it as a game-changer with its capabilities, including Genmoji, AI writing tools, and . However, the company postponed the full relaunch of Siri, which was rumored to be part of the iOS 18 package. After a decision to reconstruct Siri for more reliable performance and context understanding, Apple's struggle for personal assistant superiority was prolonged. Also Read: already powers smart assistant features on Android, including context awareness, multitasking, and integration with third-party apps. According to Bloomberg's report, Gemini might manage Siri's query planning and response summarization, but it could also support its knowledge search system. All these features will operate on Apple's Private Cloud Compute, maintaining its privacy-first philosophy.

Apple to use Google's AI model to run new Siri, Bloomberg News reports

(Reuters) -Apple plans to use a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model developed by Google to help power an overhaul of the Siri voice assistant, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday. After an extensive evaluation, the companies are finalizing a deal that would have Apple pay about $1 billion a year for access to Google's technology, the report said. The iPhone maker will use Google's Gemini model as a stopgap until its own systems are ready, Bloomberg said. The model's 1.2 trillion parameters, a measure of AI model complexity, would dwarf Apple's current systems. Apple and Alphabet did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment. (Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

Apple to pay Google $1 bn annually to power next-gen Siri with custom Gemini AI model: Report

The new version of Siri, internally known as Linwood, is expected to launch in spring 2026 as part of iOS 26.4. Apple is preparing a major upgrade for its Siri voice assistant, and it's reportedly turning to Google for help. According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to use a custom version of Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model to power the next generation of Siri. The agreement, expected to be finalised soon, could see Apple paying Google around $1 billion each year for access to its technology. The new version of Siri, internally known as Linwood, is expected to launch in spring 2026 as part of iOS 26.4. The Gemini model Apple will use reportedly contains 1.2 trillion parameters, making it vastly more powerful than Apple's current 150-billion-parameter system used for its cloud-based version of Apple Intelligence. This upgrade will likely make Siri far better at understanding context and processing complex data. Also read: After initial hype, users ditch Arattai and switch back to WhatsApp Under the deal, Google's Gemini AI is said to handle Siri's summariser and planner functions, the parts that help Siri understand user requests and decide how to act. However, some Siri features will still likely run on Apple's in-house AI models. To maintain user privacy, the system will operate on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, keeping data separate from Google's infrastructure, according to the report. Also read: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 available with over Rs 44,300 discount on Amazon: Check deal details here Apple reportedly views this collaboration as a temporary solution while it continues to develop its own large-scale AI model. The company hopes to eventually replace Google's technology with an in-house alternative. Interestingly, despite the scale of the collaboration, Apple does not plan to publicly promote the partnership. Instead, Google is expected to act as a behind-the-scenes technology provider.

Apple's new Siri will run on Google Gemini models: Here's how

Apple uses Gemini models privately while keeping user data secure For a company that built its empire on "Think Different," Apple is now thinking pragmatically. In a surprising turn, reports reveal that the next generation of Siri, Apple's famously flawed voice assistant, will quietly rely on Google's Gemini AI models behind the scenes. Apple's upcoming Siri update will use Gemini to handle advanced tasks like summarising, planning, and reasoning, essentially the parts of Siri that require deeper context or multi-step understanding. The partnership, however, won't be advertised. Everything will still wear Apple's branding; the Gemini integration will remain invisible to users. It's an unusual pairing - Apple and Google, longtime rivals in hardware, software, and philosophy, now collaborating under the hood of your iPhone. Also read: Apple iOS 27 to bring major Apple Intelligence overhaul, report hints at massive AI upgrade Apple's push into AI has been deliberate, and deliberately slow. Its "Apple Intelligence" initiative, introduced early in 2024, emphasised privacy and on-device processing, a smart contrast to cloud-heavy models like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Gemini itself. But Apple's own models haven't yet matched the conversational flexibility of their competitors. That gap matters. For years, Siri has been mocked for its rigid phrasing and limited understanding - more a glorified voice remote than a true assistant. Integrating Gemini could finally change that. The new Siri may soon handle more complex commands such as, "Summarise my last messages and set a meeting reminder," without splitting them into fragments or resorting to web results. In other words, Apple is outsourcing intelligence. Apple insists privacy remains non-negotiable. The Gemini models, according to reports, will run within Apple's private cloud infrastructure rather than on Google's servers. That setup means Apple controls where the data lives, keeping user information inside its own walls. Gemini provides the processing muscle; Apple provides the guardrails. Think of it as Apple renting an AI brain but keeping it locked inside its own house. This balance lets Apple claim the best of both worlds, stronger AI capabilities without compromising its privacy-first image. For users, the experience should feel seamless: a smarter Siri that still respects their data. Apple and Google have competed for decades, yet their relationship has always been more complicated than it looks. Google already pays Apple billions annually to remain the default search engine on Safari. This new deal follows the same playbook, collaboration wrapped in competition. For Apple, it's a practical shortcut while it continues to train its own models. For Google, it's another major deployment for Gemini, ensuring the model reaches millions of iPhones worldwide. Both sides win and both remain careful not to talk about it too loudly. The deal's secrecy is telling. According to Bloomberg, Apple has no plans to mention Google in any marketing or keynote presentations. To users, Siri's improvements will appear to be the result of Apple's own engineering breakthroughs. Also read: ChatGPT won't give medical or legal advice? False, says OpenAI: Here's why But beneath that polish lies an ironic truth: one of Apple's most visible features could depend on the technology of its greatest rival. It's a move that reflects the new AI era, where even the most closed ecosystems are opening doors when progress demands it. Still, questions remain. How much transparency do users deserve about the systems processing their personal data? And will Apple's "private cloud" setup truly keep Google at arm's length? Those answers may take time and some trust. Apple's new Siri represents more than a software update; it's a strategic shift. The company that once defined itself by doing everything in-house is now quietly acknowledging that in the race toward advanced AI, collaboration might be the only way to stay competitive. So if Siri suddenly starts summarising your texts or drafting your notes with uncanny precision next year, remember - part of that intelligence comes from Mountain View, not Cupertino.

Apple's next big AI move? Tim Cook hints at Gemini, Anthropic integration after ChatGPT

The announcement follows Apple's record-breaking Q4 2025 revenue of $102.5 billion, driven by iPhone and Services growth. Apple CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that the company is now considering more third-party artificial intelligence tools for its ecosystem. According to the CNBC report, Cook stated that the company has the intention to integrate with more people over time, hinting at partnerships beyond ChatGPT for Siri and in-built.. This coincides with the previous leaks that suggested Apple is working on integrating Google's Gemini AI model next, with speculation mounting around potential collaborations with Anthropic and Perplexity. This aligns with earlier comments from Apple's software chief Craig Federighi, who had suggested many AI partnerships. Cook also stated that Apple's next-generation Siri, powered by the company's in-house AI advancements, remains on schedule for release next year. "We're making good progress," he said, adding that Apple remains open to mergers and acquisitions if they help strengthen its AI roadmap. This comes after Apple announced a record fourth quarter revenue of $102.5 billion, marking an 8% year-over-year increase. Apple iPhone sales contributed $49.03 billion, while Mac and iPad revenues stood at $8.72 billion and $6.95 billion, respectively. The company's service division, like Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, and more, has also reached a new high of $28.8 billion. Cook, during the Q4 earnings call, stated that the launch of the iPhone 17 series, including the ultra-thin iPhone Air, and Apple's broader AI ambitions are still unfolding. A recent report from Bloomberg stated that Apple and Google are in talks about integrating Gemini as an AI-powered search tool with Siri. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has already confirmed work on Gemini support for the iPhone. While Apple has not officially confirmed the details about the new AI partnerships, it is working on refreshing its hardware lineup. The company recently introduced iPad Pro, MacBook Pro, and Vision Pro models featuring M5 chipsets and may introduce the iPhone 17e.

Apple's revamped Siri on track to debut in 2026, confirms Tim Cook

Cook said that Apple is "making good progress" on the new Siri and is open to acquisitions that could support its AI goals. Apple first announced the upgraded Siri at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024. The company had initially planned to launch the new version in late 2024. However, the release has been delayed multiple times, with recent reports indicating a potential rollout in spring 2026. Now, Apple CEO Tim Cook has confirmed to CNBC that the company is on track to launch an upgraded, AI-powered version of Siri next year. Cook also revealed Apple plans to bring more third-party artificial intelligence tools to its systems over time. "Our intention is to integrate with more people over time," he said. Well, Apple has already integrated OpenAI's ChatGPT into Siri, and reports suggest that Google's Gemini could be next. There are also rumours that Apple may work with Anthropic and Perplexity to expand its AI partnerships. Also read: Apple plans OLED upgrades for MacBook Air, iPad Air and iPad mini: Report During the company's recent earnings call, Cook said that Apple is "making good progress" on the new Siri and is open to acquisitions that could support its AI goals. "We are open to pursuing M&A [mergers and acquisitions] if we think that it will advance our roadmap," he said. A recent Bloomberg report suggested that Apple could partner with Google to build an AI-powered search tool for Siri. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also confirmed last year that Gemini support for the iPhone is in the works. Meanwhile, Apple is also reportedly preparing major updates to some of its most popular devices, including the MacBook Air, iPad Air, and iPad mini. The company is said to be testing new versions of these products equipped with OLED displays. This display technology delivers deeper blacks, more vibrant colours, and improved contrast compared to the current LCD screens. This could potentially make the upcoming models even more attractive to consumers.