Apple Selects Google’s Gemini to Power the Next Generation of Siri
Apple has officially confirmed a long-term artificial intelligence partnership with Google, selecting Google’s Gemini AI models as the core foundation for its upcoming AI-powered Siri and Apple Intelligence features.
The multi-year collaboration positions Gemini at the heart of Apple’s next-generation Apple Foundation Models, marking one of the most significant AI infrastructure decisions in Apple’s history.
The upgraded Siri experience is expected to roll out later in 2026.
Apple and Google Announce Multi-Year AI Partnership
In a joint statement released Monday, Apple and Google said they have entered into a long-term agreement that will integrate Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology into Apple’s AI ecosystem.
According to the statement, Apple selected Google after extensive evaluation of multiple AI providers.
“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.”
The agreement confirms earlier reports that Apple was leaning toward Google for its core AI infrastructure rather than building everything in-house or relying solely on third-party models.
What’s Changing: Gemini Becomes a Core AI Foundation for Apple
Under the new partnership:
- Gemini models will underpin Apple’s Foundation Models
- Apple’s AI will continue to run on-device where possible
- More complex requests will be handled via Private Cloud Compute
- Apple says its “industry-leading privacy standards” will remain intact
Apple emphasized that user data will not be used to train Google’s models and that privacy protections remain unchanged.
Neither company disclosed the financial terms of the agreement. However, previous reporting suggested Apple may pay around $1 billion per year for access to Google’s AI technology, though this figure has not been officially confirmed.
Apple Chose Google Over Anthropic
According to Bloomberg, Apple evaluated multiple AI providers, including Anthropic, before selecting Google.
By late 2025, Apple reportedly narrowed its choice to Google based largely on financial terms, scalability, and model performance, ultimately deciding Gemini was the best fit for Apple’s long-term AI roadmap.
The confirmation validates months of industry speculation and signals growing confidence in Google’s AI platform.
OpenAI Partnership Remains in Place
Despite the new agreement with Google, Apple confirmed that its existing partnership with OpenAI remains unchanged.
Currently:
- ChatGPT is integrated into Siri for complex, external knowledge queries
- OpenAI powers certain Apple Intelligence features
- Users can opt into ChatGPT when Siri needs broader contextual reasoning
Apple told CNBC it is not replacing OpenAI, but rather distinguishing between:
- Foundational AI models (now Gemini-powered)
- Optional external AI services (like ChatGPT)
This suggests Apple is pursuing a multi-model AI strategy, using different providers for different use cases.
Industry Context: Why This Deal Matters Now
The announcement comes at a pivotal moment for both companies.
- Alphabet recently surpassed Apple in market capitalization for the first time since 2019
- Google’s AI business has accelerated rapidly, with Google Cloud closing more $1B+ deals in 2025 than in the previous two years combined
- Gemini 3, released late last year, significantly improved reasoning and multimodal performance
The deal also lands amid increased regulatory scrutiny of Google’s dominance in search. While a U.S. court ruled Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search advertising, regulators did not require divestment of Chrome or Android.
Apple’s continued partnership with Google underscores how deeply intertwined the two companies remain despite regulatory pressure.
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Why This Is a Big Competitive Shift
Siri handles an estimated 1.5 billion requests per day across more than 2 billion active Apple devices.
That distribution gives Gemini exposure on a scale Google cannot achieve through its own consumer products alone.
More importantly, a more capable Siri could:
- Answer more queries directly on-device
- Reduce reliance on traditional web search
- Decrease traffic referrals to external websites
The shift mirrors what’s already happening with AI Overviews and AI Mode in Google Search, where AI answers increasingly replace click-throughs.
For publishers, marketers, and SEO professionals, this reinforces the importance of AI visibility, brand authority, and citations, not just rankings.
Timeline: When the New Siri Is Expected to Launch
Apple originally planned to release its AI-powered Siri upgrade in 2025 but delayed the rollout.
At the time, Apple said:
“It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features, and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.”
The upgraded Siri is now expected to launch sometime in 2026, though Apple has not provided a precise date.
What Comes Next
Apple’s decision to partner with Google for AI infrastructure — while keeping OpenAI integrated — signals a flexible, multi-provider strategy rather than a single-vendor bet.
As these features roll out, it will become clearer:
- How Apple balances Gemini and ChatGPT
- Which queries Siri answers internally
- How AI impacts search traffic and discovery
One thing is certain: this partnership significantly expands Gemini’s reach and reshapes the competitive landscape of consumer AI
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Vishal Parihar is a Full Stack Digital Marketer and Co-Founder of Soocialhaus.in with over 5 years of hands-on experience in digital marketing. He specializes in SEO, Google Ads, social media marketing, content strategy, performance marketing, and brand growth. Vishal has helped startups, entrepreneurs, and established businesses improve their online visibility, generate quality leads, and scale revenue through data-driven and ROI-focused marketing strategies. At Soocialhaus, he leads growth campaigns, marketing automation, and conversion optimization projects for clients across multiple industries.