Apple to Use Google AI Model for New Siri, Bloomberg Reports

In a landmark partnership between two of tech's biggest rivals, Apple plans to use an advanced artificial intelligence model from Google to power its long-awaited, next-generation version of Siri. The news, first reported by Bloomberg, marks a significant strategic move for Apple as it races to catch up in the generative AI arms race.

According to people with knowledge of the matter, the two companies are finalizing a deal that would see Apple pay Google approximately $1 billion annually. In return, Apple will gain access to a custom version of Google's powerful Gemini AI model.

The report specifies Apple will use an ultrapowerful 1.2 trillion-parameter version of Gemini, which would dwarf the complexity of Apple's current in-house models. This custom Google AI will reportedly run on Apple's own secure "Private Cloud Compute" servers, a move intended to maintain Apple's stringent privacy standards by preventing Google from accessing Apple user data.

A Stopgap to Bridge the AI Gap
This collaboration is seen as a tactical and temporary solution for Apple, which has faced criticism for Siri's lagging capabilities compared to competitors like Google Assistant and OpenAI's ChatGPT. The integration of Gemini is expected to provide the backbone for Siri's new, more complex functions, specifically handling summarization and multi-step task planning.

The move will allow Apple to finally ship a revamped, more conversational, and capable version of Siri, which is now expected to launch in the spring of 2026, potentially with an iOS 26.4 update. The original Siri overhaul, promised as part of "Apple Intelligence," was delayed from its initial 2025 timeline.

While Apple is leaning on Google's technology to power these key cloud-based features, the company is reportedly still using its own on-device models for simpler, personal tasks. The partnership is not expected to be publicly advertised by Apple, which continues to work on its own proprietary, large-scale AI models with the eventual goal of replacing the Google technology.

The deal highlights the immense cost and complexity of developing cutting-edge AI, forcing even the world's most valuable companies into strategic, and sometimes surprising, collaborations.