Apple Partners with Google to Power Siri Using Gemini AI
Key Points
- Apple will use Google's Gemini AI models to power a new, more personalized Siri, expected in 2026.
- The partnership includes access to Google Cloud technology while keeping AI processing on Apple devices and private cloud compute for privacy.
- Apple and Google’s long‑standing "co‑opetition" includes Google paying Apple up to $20 billion annually for default search placement.
- A rumored $1 billion‑per‑year payment from Apple to Google for the AI deal has been reported.
- Analysts say the deal helps Apple focus on user experience rather than building its own frontier AI models.
- Google could expand its AI footprint by reaching iPhone users through Siri.
- Legal experts warn the arrangement could face antitrust scrutiny in the future.
- Specific technical details of the integration remain unclear.
Apple and Google have announced a multiyear partnership that will see Google's Gemini AI models underpin a more personalized version of Siri, slated for release in 2026. The agreement lets Apple use Gemini and Google Cloud to drive its upcoming frontier models and Apple Intelligence while keeping data on Apple devices and private cloud compute for privacy. Analysts note the deal continues Apple’s tradition of “co‑opetition” with Google, which already pays Apple for default search placement, and could give Google a larger AI footprint on iPhone users. Potential antitrust concerns have been raised, but the specifics of the technology exchange remain unclear.
Apple and Google Announce AI Partnership
Apple and Google released a joint statement confirming a multiyear agreement in which Google’s Gemini artificial‑intelligence models will serve as the foundation for a more personalized version of Apple’s Siri virtual assistant. The integration is expected to arrive sometime in 2026. Under the deal, Apple will also tap Google’s cloud technology to power its future frontier models and the new Apple Intelligence features.
Privacy‑First Implementation
Apple emphasized that its new AI services will continue to run on Apple devices and on a Private Cloud Compute infrastructure that maintains the company’s industry‑leading privacy standards. Analysts highlighted that Apple’s approach will likely allow users to opt in before any prompts are shared with Gemini, preserving the privacy model that Apple has built around its services.
Long‑Standing "Co‑opetition" Between the Companies
The partnership builds on a decade‑long relationship in which Google pays Apple up to $20 billion per year to remain the default search engine on Apple devices. A recent court ruling allowed those payments to continue, paving the way for the new AI arrangement. Reports suggest a rumored $1 billion‑per‑year payment from Apple to Google for the Gemini deal, a figure described as modest in the context of the broader tech industry.
Strategic Benefits for Both Sides
For Apple, the agreement offers a way to move past the challenges it has faced in developing its own frontier AI models and to focus on delivering a high‑quality user experience with a proven AI foundation. The shift follows a period of delayed Siri updates, missed AI milestones, and leadership changes within Apple’s AI division.
Google stands to gain a larger user base for its Gemini models by embedding them in iPhone‑based Siri interactions, potentially cementing its status as a go‑to AI provider for consumers.
Potential Antitrust Scrutiny
Legal experts warned that the deal could attract future antitrust scrutiny, similar to the concerns raised during Google’s search‑engine litigation. While the current arrangement may involve a white‑labeled technology stack that limits direct data flow to Google, the scale of the partnership could still raise competition questions down the line.
Unclear Technical Details
The precise mechanics of how Apple will integrate Gemini—whether through white‑labeling, joint development, or another model—remain unspecified. Analysts noted that the lack of detail makes it difficult to assess the full competitive impact of the collaboration.
Overall, the Apple‑Google Gemini partnership represents a significant step in the evolving landscape of artificial‑intelligence integration, balancing privacy commitments with the pursuit of more advanced, personalized digital assistants.