What’s happened? Earlier this year, there were reports that Google’s Gemini would give Siri a major brain upgrade, and now the pieces appear to be falling into place. According to Bloomberg, Apple is finalising a deal with Google to use a custom version of the Gemini AI model to power the next-gen Siri assistant.
- The deal, reportedly worth about $1 billion a year, gives Siri access to Google’s massive 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini model.
- Apple will run the model on its own ‘Private Cloud Compute’ infrastructure to maintain data control.
- Apple isn’t giving up on its own AI; this deal just buys it time until its homegrown models can compete.
- The revamped Siri is expected to launch in early 2026.
This is important because: Siri has lagged behind competitors like Gemini and Alexa in delivering advanced conversational AI and multi-step task support, and this deal signals a major push to catch up.
- Using Google’s 1.2-trillion-parameter model is a massive jump from Apple’s 150 billion baseline that could finally give Siri the context and reasoning skills it’s long lacked.
- Running the model on Apple’s own cloud infrastructure means control over user data and privacy while leveraging external AI muscle.
Why it matters? This deal could potentially change how you interact with your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other Apple devices in the future.
- As an iPhone user, you could soon say things like “Plan my travel for next week, book the hotel, map the route, and list local cafes” and actually get Siri to follow through all your commands in one go.
- Siri’s response may feel more natural, less robotic, and you might get fewer “I don’t know” replies.
OK, what’s next? It is yet to be seen whether Apple frames the deal publicly, acknowledging Google Gemini integration, or positions it purely as Apple Intelligence.
- Watch out for Apple’s official announcement, as the rollout is speculated to arrive in spring 2026, possibly tied to iOS 26.4.
- Expect an Apple Siri vs Google Gemini comparison as Apple blends its AI with Google’s to redefine Siri’s next chapter.
