Key Highlights
- Apple and Google have announced a multi-year partnership to integrate Google’s Gemini models into Siri and select Apple Intelligence features.
- The deal is expected to power the personalised Siri experience previewed at WWDC 2024.
- Apple says Apple Intelligence will continue to operate within its privacy-focused on-device and Private Cloud Compute framework.
Apple and Google confirmed on Monday, January 12, that they have entered into a multi-year artificial intelligence agreement under which Google’s Gemini AI models will power Siri and several Apple Intelligence capabilities.
The partnership comes as Apple works to close the gap with rivals in the rapidly evolving AI race. While Apple has emphasized privacy-first, on-device intelligence, it has faced challenges delivering advanced generative AI features at the pace demonstrated by competitors.
Under the new agreement, Gemini will enable the revamped, personalised version of Siri that Apple showcased at WWDC 2024, offering deeper contextual understanding and more tailored user interactions.
Privacy Remains Central to Apple Intelligence
In a joint statement, the companies said Apple selected Google’s AI after extensive evaluation.
“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 statement read.
Apple also stressed that Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, maintaining what it describes as industry-leading privacy standards. This suggests Gemini models will operate either on-device or through Apple-controlled servers, though Apple has not clarified whether Google will have access to user data.
A Deal Months in the Making
The partnership has reportedly been under discussion for months. Delays in launching the upgraded Siri and Apple’s earlier indications that it may rely on external AI labs for frontier models are believed to have slowed the announcement.
A November Bloomberg report suggested Apple could pay up to $1 billion annually to access Google’s foundational AI models, though the financial terms of the deal have not been officially disclosed.
Regulatory Context and Market Reaction
The announcement arrives amid ongoing antitrust scrutiny of a long-standing agreement in which Google pays Apple billions of dollars annually to remain the default search engine on iOS devices.
Following news of the Gemini partnership, Apple shares rose approximately 0.3%, while Alphabet shares gained about 1%, reflecting investor optimism around the collaboration.
What Gemini Means for Siri’s Future
With Gemini integrated, the next-generation Siri is expected to better understand personal context, anticipate user needs, and deliver more tailored, conversational experiences.
For Apple, the deal represents a strategic step forward, leveraging Google’s AI scale while preserving its core focus on privacy, control, and user trust as it pushes Apple Intelligence into a more competitive era.