In a move that has shaken the tech industry to its core, Apple has officially announced a massive partnership with Google to power the next generation of Siri. After years of struggling to keep up in the AI race, the iPhone maker is turning to its longtime rival to bring “Apple Intelligence” up to speed.
The multi-year deal, confirmed by both companies on Monday, means that future versions of Siri will run on Google’s advanced Gemini AI models. This is a huge shift for Apple, a company that famously prefers to build its own technology rather than rely on others.
“The Most Capable Foundation”
Apple didn’t mince words about why they chose Google over other competitors like OpenAI or Anthropic. In a rare joint statement, the company admitted they needed the best tech available right now to fix Siri.
“After careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google’s AI technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple users.” — Official Joint Statement
This candid admission suggests that Apple’s own internal efforts to build a ChatGPT rival were simply not moving fast enough. By licensing Gemini, Apple can leapfrog years of development and immediately offer a smarter, more capable voice assistant to its 2 billion active users.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you’ve ever been frustrated by Siri misunderstanding a simple question, relief is on the way. The new Gemini-powered Siri is expected to launch later this year (likely with iOS 20 or a major mid-cycle update). Here is what you can expect:
- Conversational Skills: Siri will finally be able to hold a real conversation, remembering context from previous questions just like a human would.
- Deep Integration: Unlike a simple chatbot app, this new brain will be woven deep into the iPhone’s operating system, allowing it to control apps and perform complex tasks.
- Personalization: The companies promised a “more personalized Siri,” meaning it will better understand your specific habits, preferences, and data.
Importantly, Apple insists that despite using Google’s cloud technology, privacy remains a top priority. “Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards,” the statement assured.
The Billion-Dollar Question
While the exact financial terms weren’t disclosed, insiders suggest this deal is massive. Reports from Bloomberg last fall indicated that Apple could be paying Google around $1 billion annually for this privilege. It’s a price Apple is willing to pay to ensure the iPhone doesn’t fall behind in the AI era.
This partnership also raises questions about Apple’s existing relationship with OpenAI. Apple confirmed that its current integration with ChatGPT will remain in place for now, giving users a choice. However, with Gemini now powering the “core” experience, it’s clear who the primary partner is moving forward.
A Win-Win or a Sign of Weakness?
Analysts are split on how to view this news. On one hand, it’s a brilliant strategic move: Apple gets the best AI instantly, and Google gets access to billions of new users. Dan Ives, a tech analyst at Wedbush, called it a “positive development for both Apple and Google” that addresses the “major concern” of Apple’s missing AI strategy.
On the other hand, it highlights just how far behind Apple really was. Relying on a competitor for such a critical feature is risky. But for now, it seems Apple has decided that having a working, smart Siri is more important than pride.
