Apple Strikes $1 Billion Deal with Google to Power Next-Generation Siri with Custom Gemini AI Model
8 Sources
[1]
Apple to Reportedly Pay Google $1 Billion a Year for Siri's Custom Gemini AI Model
Imad is a senior reporter covering Google and internet culture. Hailing from Texas, Imad started his journalism career in 2013 and has amassed bylines with The New York Times, The Washington Post, ESPN, Tom's Guide and Wired, among others. Apple is inking a deal with Google to make a custom Gemini
[2]
Apple reportedly doesn't want you to know Siri will be running partly on Google's Gemini
Last week's reports revealed that Apple will pay Google about $1 billion a year for the custom Gemini model. Last week's reports revealed that Apple will pay Google around $1 billion a year for a custom-built Gemini AI model to power the next version of Siri, expected to debut with iOS 26.4 next
[3]
New Siri rumor could give Apple and users exactly what they need - 9to5Mac
Siri's delayed AI upgrades are still expected to ship next spring in iOS 26.4, and a new report this week about Google's tech powering the features might be exactly what Apple and its users need. Apple's inability to ship the Siri upgrades it promised in iOS 18 has been embarrassing for the
[4]
Apple's $1B Google AI deal will be great for iPhone users. Until it's not
Apple is making the right move to get Siri back on track, but this is a core technology Apple has to be able to make, not buy. The news of Apple's pending deal with Google says a lot. While neither Apple nor Google will likely ever publicly acknowledge it outside of necessary financial
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Apple's AI play may hinge on Google
The big picture: Using Google's Gemini under the hood could create a stronger pocket assistant, but much will come down to how well Apple can stitch together its voice assistant with Google's technology. Driving the news: Bloomberg reports Apple is nearing a $1 billion-a-year agreement to run a
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Apple Could Pay Google $1 Billion a Year to Use its AI Model for Siri
Apple eventually wants to develop a trillion-parameter model for Siri Apple will reportedly pay Google about $1 billion a year to access its custom Gemini artificial intelligence (AI) model that will power the promised features in Siri. As per the report, the Cupertino-based tech giant does not
[7]
Apple and Google join forces: Siri to get a major AI upgrade with Gemini integration
Apple is set to revolutionise Siri with the integration of Google's Gemini AI model, marking one of the biggest collaborations in tech history. The move could transform the iPhone experience, making Siri smarter, more conversational, and context-aware. Here's how Apple plans to use Google's
[8]
Apple Buys the Brain: Google Gemini to Power Siri in $1 Billion AI Deal
Apple is undertaking a significant initiative to redefine Siri, its voice assistant, by integrating advanced artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, according to recent rumors. At the heart of this effort lies a new $1 billion annual partnership with Google, using its Gemini AI technology. This
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Apple will reportedly pay Google $1 billion annually for a custom 1.2 trillion parameter Gemini AI model to power Siri's major overhaul, expected to launch in spring 2026. The partnership addresses Apple's AI development challenges while maintaining privacy through Apple's own servers.
Apple's Billion-Dollar AI Partnership
Apple is reportedly finalizing a landmark deal with Google that will see the iPhone maker pay approximately $1 billion annually for a custom version of Google's Gemini AI model to power the next generation of Siri
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. The partnership, expected to debut with iOS 26.4 in spring 2026, represents a significant shift in Apple's approach to artificial intelligence development and marks one of the largest AI licensing deals in the industry.
Source: Geeky Gadgets
The custom Gemini model will feature 1.2 trillion parameters, significantly dwarfing Apple's current AI capabilities
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. Apple reportedly evaluated multiple AI providers, including Anthropic, before settling on Google's offering. The decision was partly financial – while Google's solution costs $1 billion annually, Anthropic's alternative would have required $1.5 billion per year1
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Source: Macworld
Keeping the Partnership Under Wraps
Despite the substantial collaboration, Apple has no plans to publicly acknowledge Google's role in powering Siri's enhanced capabilities
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. Internally, the company refers to the Gemini-based system as "AFM v10," short for "Apple Foundation Model version 10," a deliberate naming choice designed to obscure the partnership and avoid confusing staff and customers.This secretive approach aligns with Apple's preference to present AI capabilities as part of its own ecosystem, even when relying heavily on external technology. The company aims to maintain its brand image of technological self-sufficiency while addressing urgent competitive pressures in the AI space
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.Privacy and Infrastructure Considerations
To address privacy concerns, Apple will run the Gemini-based system on its own Private Cloud Compute servers, ensuring user data remains separate from Google's systems
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. Apple's own AI models will continue handling personal data processing on individual devices, while the more powerful Gemini model will manage complex server-side tasks.This hybrid approach represents Apple's attempt to balance computational power with its privacy-first philosophy. The arrangement allows Apple to deliver advanced AI capabilities without compromising its commitment to user data protection, a key differentiator in the competitive smartphone market
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Source: ET
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Strategic Implications and Industry Response
The partnership highlights Apple's acknowledgment that it has fallen behind in AI development despite being one of the world's most valuable companies
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. Industry observers view the deal as both pragmatic and concerning – while it addresses immediate competitive needs, it also signals Apple's dependence on external AI technology for core features.The arrangement builds upon Apple and Google's existing relationship, where Google already pays Apple approximately $20 billion annually to remain the default search engine on Apple devices
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. This financial interdependence between the two tech giants continues despite their competition in various market segments.Apple CEO Tim Cook has maintained that the company prefers to be "not first, but best" in technology adoption, but the delayed rollout of promised AI features has created pressure to accelerate development timelines
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