Apple's AI Ambitions: Siri Upgrade May Leverage Google's Gemini for Enhanced Web Search

Apple's Siri upgrade could reportedly be powered by Google Gemini | TechCrunch

Apple's Siri overhaul may include an AI-powered web search tool with technology powered by Google's Gemini, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The iPhone maker, which has been criticized for falling behind in the AI race, delayed its long-awaited Siri update until 2026. In the meantime, the company has been scrambling to determine whether its own AI models alone will work well enough to make its upgraded Siri competitive with the AI answer engines available today from tech companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Google. Per Bloomberg, Apple could be turning to Google for a solution to its problems. The report claims that Apple and Google reached a formal agreement this week that will see Apple testing a Google AI model in Siri. If successful, the technology could also be used in other areas of iPhone software, including the Safari browser and Spotlight search, which is available on the Home Screen. In previous years, Spotlight seemed to be ramping up to become a rival of sorts to Google, as it allowed iPhone users to bypass web searches to get basic answers about popular topics, like information about actors, musicians, TV shows, and movies, among other things. With AI chatbots, however, consumers can now source quick answers about a wide range of topics beyond those that could be found on Wikipedia. The report suggests that the upgraded search experience's interface will use a combination of text, photos, videos, and local points of interest, as well as an AI-powered summarization feature. It will also be able to tap into users' personal data and let them navigate their devices via voice.

Apple's rumored AI search tool for Siri could rely on Google

Apple is working on an AI-powered search feature for Siri - but it might need Google's help to make it happen, according to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. As noted by Gurman, Google is currently in the lead to help Apple revamp its voice assistant, which could involve using a custom Gemini model running on the iPhone maker's servers. The new feature, reportedly called "World Knowledge Answers" internally, will allow users to search for information and receive AI-generated summaries based on results from the web. Its interface will also incorporate text, photos, videos, and points of interest, allowing it to challenge the AI-powered search features from companies like OpenAI and Perplexity. Putting AI search into Siri is part of Apple's delayed plans to upgrade the voice assistant with new features that will let it tap into your personal data and perform actions based on the content on your screen. The new Siri will reportedly work by leveraging a planner, which helps interpret voice or text prompts, a search system to scan user data or the internet, and a summarizer to package all of this information for users. This week, Apple and Google reached a "formal agreement" for Apple to test a Google-designed AI model for Siri's summaries, according to Bloomberg. Apple reportedly plans to use its own AI models to search user data, but it's still evaluating Anthropic's Claude and Gemini for Siri's planning function. Even though Apple's set to take the wraps off its iPhone 17 lineup next week, the company is expected to launch the AI-upgraded Siri alongside iOS 26.4 as early as next March.

Apple Plans AI-Powered Web Search Tool for Siri to Rival OpenAI, Perplexity

Apple Inc. is planning to launch its own artificial intelligence-powered web search tool next year, stepping up competition with OpenAI and Perplexity AI Inc. The company is working on a new system -- dubbed internally as World Knowledge Answers -- that will be integrated into the Siri voice assistant, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Apple has discussed also eventually adding the technology to its Safari web browser and Spotlight, which is used to search from the iPhone home screen.

Apple's latest AI project may be a web search tool

Apple continues to seek a foothold in the artificial intelligence race, and its next effort could bring the company into web search. Mark Gurman at reports that Apple is building a search platform that it may incorporate into its AI-driven overhaul of Siri. Sources said the tool, internally called World Knowledge Answers, could also be added to the Safari web browser and the Spotlight smartphone search interface. Apple's efforts in AI have been under the microscope since the of Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024. Since then, the company appears to still be foundering, with its revitalized and AI-empowered Siri now not due to arrive . This proposed search tool would be part of that planned Siri re-launch next spring. Some core aspects of Siri are still up in the air. The company has reportedly trialed to power a version of the AI assistant, although it hasn't committed to using that approach. Considering an outside partnership for this critical feature is one path Apple could take to bolstering its AI offerings. CEO Tim Cook has also said the company is to pursue its current roadmap. There were even rumors that the company snapping up Perplexity. Apple has historically avoided getting involved in search, but this development could reflect how more of its potential customers are turning to AI chatbots to access information online. And particularly if the company brings an AI option to Safari, Apple might be able to compete more directly to other tech majors that offer their own-branded chatbots, such as Google with Gemini or Microsoft with Copilot. It could also draw closer to parity with AI companies that are entering the browser game, such as and .

Apple Planning AI-Powered Web Search for Siri Next Year: Report

Apple is considering a custom-built version of Google's Gemini. Apple is planning to launch a new AI-powered web search tool for Siri next year, according to a new report from Bloomberg, as it seeks to compete with competitors who've invested heavily in AI. Details are still scarce and could change before launch, but it sounds like the whole thing could be powered by a custom version of Google's Gemini. The new system is being called World Knowledge Answers internally, according to Bloomberg, and may even be added to Safari and Spotlight. An AI-powered version of Siri has been long delayed, after Apple promised in 2024 that it would be available in June 2025. That, of course, was pushed back. The new AI features for Siri will likely create a search experience on Apple devices that utilizes the unique access it has to things like text, photos, and videos. And it's likely to create summaries based on web searches that are more powerful than what's available with the currently anemic Siri. But even if a custom-built Gemini is used for some functions like summarizing, it would probably run on Apple's own Private Cloud Compute servers in order to maintain privacy, according to Bloomberg. Google has already reportedly delivered Gemini's summarizing tech to Apple, but it's still being fine-tuned. Apple previously considered buying Perplexity but is no longer interested, according to the news outlet. Privacy has been a tricky problem to solve when tech companies tackle AI. OpenAI's Sam Altman has warned that anyone using ChatGPT as a therapist should know that there are no doctor-patient confidentiality laws for AI chatbots. And Signal's Meredith Whittaker has warned that agentic AI capabilities are extremely difficult to pull off in an encrypted way. Apple has gotten some heat from investors for seemingly slipping behind other startups in implementing AI. But there has been good reason to be cautious. Generative artificial intelligence often doesn't work as advertised, and there are a number of hurdles to making it safe. OpenAI has learned that lesson the hard way, as reports of AI psychosis flood the internet. But Cook has recently signaled that he understands how transformative the tech could be for Apple, dubbing the AI revolution "as big or bigger" than the internet during a global all-hands meeting last month. Apple's ramp-up with AI is expected to take some time, as Bloomberg notes. The company is announcing a new iPhone next week, but the device isn't expected to have any "major" new AI features.

Google closer to powering new Siri and Apple's AI search tool as Perplexity fades - 9to5Mac

While they're not exactly tying the knot yet, Siri and Gemini are making plans to spend a lot more time together. That's according to a new report that details the current state of Apple's delayed effort to upgrade Siri for the modern era. Apple has considered Google's Gemini AI as a potential solution to fuel the AI-powered version of Siri that's currently in development. No decision has been made, however, as Apple also tests its own AI models as well as OpenAI and Anthropic models. The new development today is that Apple and Google have "reached a formal agreement this week for Apple to evaluate and test a Google-developed AI model to help power the voice assistant," according to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. The move follows a major court decision yesterday that essentially allowed Apple to continue receiving tens of billions of dollars in revenue from Google over its search engine being the default choice in Safari. Apple has been open about wanting to integrate with Google's Gemini AI since June 2024. When Apple announced Apple Intelligence with optional ChatGPT integration for world knowledge, it named Google's Gemini as a future candidate for being a data provider. No deal has reportedly been reached due to the pending court decision, but Apple is now free to continue the status quo with Google. However, there's another major detail in Mark Gurman's latest reporting. According to Gurman, Apple is developing an AI-powered search product it calls World Knowledge Answers. The report says the AI-backed web search feature is being targeted for release next year. Gurman connects the Gemini test deal to the Answers project, saying that Google's AI models could potentially run the AI search tool. If Apple does use Gemini for the enhanced Siri product, Gurman reports that Google's AI models will run on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers. Separately, Apple plans to always use its models and servers for AI features involving user data. Lastly, Gurman says that Apple is no longer considering Perplexity as an acquisition target. Perplexity specializes in using models from leading AI companies to power its own search product. The AI startup had more appeal when Apple risked losing its business arrangements with Google Search. Apple announced the updated version of Siri at WWDC 2024. The company planned to release the more capable version during the iOS 18 release cycle, but officially delayed the project earlier this year. Apple is now expected to complete the project in time for a spring arrival in 2026.

Report: Apple is building an AI-powered web search for Siri

While we're still waiting for the new Apple Intelligence-infused Siri to arrive on our iPhones, a new report claims Apple's plans for its digital assistant go far beyond the scope outlined so far. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a new AI-powered web search feature for Siri to rival OpenAI and Perplexity. The tool, dubbed "World Knowledge Answers" internally, is not a large-scale LLM (Large Language Model) chatbot, but rather relies on web crawling, search, and an LLM to provide answers from the web. According to the report, the system is meant to launch in spring 2026 as part of the big Siri overhaul, and would compete with ChatGPT, Google's AI search answers, and Perplexity when it comes to getting up-to-date information from the web. Apple may later bring the same system to Safari and Spotlight on the Mac. The report says the technology behind the new tool "could come in part" from Google. Apparently, the two companies came to a formal agreement just this week in which Apple will test a Google-developed AI model to power the future Siri upgrade. Perhaps coincidentally, a judge ruled this week that the two companies' lucrative partnership to make Google the default search engine on iPhones is allowed. The new search experience will have an interface that "makes use of" text, images, video, and local points of interest. There will also be AI summaries for longer results. This new search capability is just one part of a planned multi-faceted overhaul of Siri to take place next year. Also planned is the ability to understand and act with knowledge of the user's personal context, to read and understand what's on the screen, and to take actions within apps using an extensive set of app interfaces called "intents." All of this is currently planned for the OS update that should correspond to OS 26.4, due for release in the spring. There are other related AI features coming later, including a big visual redesign for Siri, an AI-powered health and wellness feature as part of a paid wellness subscription, and a big Siri update for home devices to make them more conversational.

LLM Siri With 'World Knowledge' Search Feature Coming in Early 2026

Apple plans to add an AI-powered web search tool to Siri next year, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The search tool will be an integrated Siri feature that will provide information on general search queries, similar to ChatGPT and Google's AI overviews for searches. Apple is calling the search feature World Knowledge Answers internally, and some Apple executives apparently refer to it as an "answer engine." It will be limited to Siri to begin with, but Apple could add it to Spotlight search and Safari in the future. Apple has also considered creating a chatbot-like app for search, though it is not clear if that will happen. Siri search will include an interface that supports text, photos, videos, and local points of interest, with Siri being able to summarize search results to provide an clear summary of content. The new Siri answer engine will be included in the Siri updates that Apple is introducing in 2026. Apple has been working on a smarter, more personalized version of Siri that was supposed to be introduced as part of iOS 18 earlier this year, but it was delayed. Apple couldn't get the first-generation Siri architecture that it was using to work properly, so Siri needed to be rebuilt from the ground up using a second-generation architecture that relies on large language models. In August, Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that the overhauled Siri architecture was giving Apple the results that it needed, and that Apple was now in a position to "not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than we envisioned." The new Siri features have three systems that power them, including a planner that interprets voice or text input, the search system that looks through the web and the user's device, and a summarizer that provides the end answer to the user. Apple has been weighing using its own LLM models for these Siri elements or relying on an outside partner like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google, and it sounds like progress has been made with Google. Apple and Google have apparently signed a formal agreement that will see Apple evaluating and testing a custom Google-designed Gemini AI model that could power some of the summarization Siri features. Apple is still testing models designed by Anthropic and its own in-house models for the planner functionality, though it could opt to use Google's AI models for that too. Apple's own Foundation Models will be used for searching user data, making sure customer data isn't processed using third-party models. The upcoming LLM version of Siri is on track to launch as early as March 2026 in an iOS 26.4 update. Along with the world knowledge feature, Siri will have the personalization capabilities that were promised in iOS 18. Siri will be able to use personal information like emails and messages to answer questions and help users find what they're looking for, plus it will be able to interact with on-screen content and do more within apps. Later in 2026, Siri will get a visual redesign and a built-in health feature that will be the backbone of a paid wellness subscription service.

Apple could launch its own rival to ChatGPT and Perplexity next year

In less than a year, Siri might evolve into an AI-powered, web-tethered answering engine. Apple is reportedly working on its own AI-powered knowledge engine that will be integrated within Siri. The idea is to let Siri handle queries where it must tap into the internet and act more like a web search tool. What's on the desk? "The company is working on a new system -- dubbed internally as World Knowledge Answers -- that will be integrated into the Siri voice assistant," reports Bloomberg. At the moment, if you ask Siri a question that is complex or requires deep research on the internet, the query is offloaded to ChatGPT. This integration with ChatGPT landed with the arrival of Apple Intelligence last year. Recommended Videos The upcoming tool, which some executives are referring to as an "answer engine," might eventually get integrated within Safari and Spotlight, as well. Apple is reportedly planning to release this AI-powered web search tool next year. What's the outlook? So far, Apple has remained a laggard in the AI race, while companies like Microsoft and Gemini have leveled up their digital assistants with Copilot and Gemini, respectively. The advent of competitors such as ChatGPT and Perplexity has further complicated the situation for Siri. But it seems Apple finally has a solution in development. "The idea is to make Siri and Apple's operating systems a place where users can look up information from across the internet -- in a similar fashion to ChatGPT, AI Overviews in Google Search, and a crop of new apps," adds the Bloomberg report. The AI-powered web search tool will also be able to process text and visual input, and offer a knowledge summarization tool similar to Google AI Overviews. Additionally, Apple is also working on what many are calling an "AI brain transplant" for Siri, or LLM Siri, for a 2026 release.

Apple Developing AI-Powered Web Search Tool for Siri and Safari | PYMNTS.com

Apple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS' request for comment. PYMNTS reported in November 2024 that innovation in search is getting a shot in the arm by AI-powered chat interfaces that are challenging traditional models. While Google has reigned supreme as the global leader in online search, a shifting technology is setting the stage for intensified competition from alternative search engines and AI-powered platforms. The share of those searches in the United States that went to chatbots rather than traditional search engines reached 5.6% in June, up from 2.48% in June 2024 and 1.3% in January 2024. Wednesday's report came at a time when Apple has been facing mounting criticism that the company has lagged in the AI race. It was reported in August that Apple held a rare companywide meeting to cover its investment in AI and that CEO Tim Cook expressed a positive outlook about the company's AI future, saying Apple has "exciting" plans for the technology that he wasn't able to discuss.