Apple to Use Google’s Gemini AI Model to Power a Revamped Siri

In a surprising strategic move, Apple plans to licence and deploy a custom version of Google’s advanced Gemini AI model—featuring around 1.2 trillion parameters—to power the next generation of its voice assistant, Siri. The deal reportedly involves annual payments of about US $1 billion, and sees the model operating on Apple’s own Private Cloud Compute infrastructure rather than through Google’s services.

The partnership marks a major shift for Apple, which has long emphasised developing its core AI systems in-house. Despite that, the company has faced delays in rolling out a fully upgraded Siri and appears to be turning to Google’s cutting-edge technology as a stop-gap while it ramps its internal capabilities. Apple intends to launch the AI-enhanced Siri by spring 2026, aligning with its broader Apple Intelligence initiative.

Analysis / Impact:
This agreement signals how AI development is reshaping even the most closed ecosystem players: Apple, known for tight hardware-software integration, is now willing to lean on a direct rival’s model to stay competitive. The decision could give Siri a much‐needed boost in handling multi-step requests, context-aware queries and conversational depth, where it has fallen behind competitors such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

For Google, the deal serves as a revenue win and a validation of Gemini’s technical leadership. But it also raises questions about Apple’s long‐term ambitions in AI: will the partnership reduce the urgency of building Apple’s own models, or will it serve as a springboard toward them?

From a user-perspective, the key will be whether Apple can maintain its privacy narrative while relying on external AI infrastructure. Running Gemini on Apple’s servers helps maintain control, but integrating externally sourced models risks diluting its differentiation.

In the broader tech landscape, the partnership underscores the high stakes of the AI assistant race. With large language models rapidly becoming centrepiece features in devices, manufacturers who lag may choose collaboration over isolation—and the ripple effects may reshape future alliances and competitive dynamics.