Apple Partners with Google Gemini to Run Siri with AI Power

Apple is preparing a major overhaul of its Siri voice assistant, and to get there, it’s turning to an unexpected ally, Google. According to Bloomberg and Reuters, Apple plans to use Google’s 1.2 trillion-parameter Gemini artificial intelligence model to power a reimagined version of Siri, marking one of the tech giant’s most significant partnerships in recent years (Reuters; Bloomberg; Financial Post). The deal, which is expected to cost Apple about $1 billion per year, is designed to serve as a temporary but powerful solution while Apple continues developing its own in-house AI systems.

The agreement comes after an extensive evaluation period in which Apple reportedly tested several competing AI models, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. Ultimately, Google’s Gemini model proved to be the top choice, offering far greater complexity and contextual understanding than Apple’s current systems. With 1.2 trillion parameters, Gemini vastly exceeds the 150 billion-parameter model currently used in Apple’s cloud-based version of Apple Intelligence, promising dramatic improvements in how Siri understands and executes user commands (Bloomberg; Financial Post).

The upcoming Siri, internally known as “Linwood” and slated to debut with iOS 26.4 next spring, will rely on Gemini to manage core functions such as summarization and planning. These are the components that enable Siri to synthesize information and handle multi-step tasks. However, Apple’s in-house AI will continue to support other Siri features. The Gemini model will operate within Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers to ensure that user data remains isolated from Google’s infrastructure, maintaining Apple’s strict privacy standards (Bloomberg; Financial Post).

The collaboration, though substantial, will largely remain behind the scenes. Unlike Apple’s well-known Safari deal that makes Google the default search engine, this partnership will not be publicly promoted. Google’s role will instead be that of a quiet technology supplier, helping Apple close the gap in a rapidly evolving AI landscape (Reuters; Financial Post). Apple executives have been candid about the company’s recent struggles in AI development, and this move reflects an acknowledgment that outside support is necessary to catch up.

Apple’s AI challenges have been well-documented. The company delayed AI upgrades to Siri until 2026 earlier this year, amid leadership changes and internal friction. CEO Tim Cook reassigned key responsibilities after losing confidence in the company’s AI head, signaling a major course correction to accelerate progress (Reuters). Mike Rockwell, who previously led development of the Vision Pro headset, and software engineering chief Craig Federighi are now leading the Siri redesign under the project codenamed “Glenwood” (Bloomberg; Financial Post).

While Apple will lean on Gemini in the short term, it is already working toward independence. The company’s internal AI team is developing a proprietary 1 trillion-parameter cloud-based model expected to reach consumer applications as early as next year. Apple hopes this system will eventually replace Gemini, though catching up may prove difficult given the rapid advancement of Google’s models, particularly the Gemini 2.5 Pro, which currently dominates AI benchmark rankings (Bloomberg; Financial Post).

Notably, Apple’s integration strategy will differ by region. In China, where Google products are banned, Apple will deploy a localized version of Siri powered by its own models and a filtering layer developed by Alibaba to meet government regulations. The company has also explored partnerships with Baidu for Chinese-language AI features (Bloomberg; Financial Post).

Despite the competitive and logistical hurdles, Apple’s move signals a new era for Siri and a bold step toward reclaiming its position in the AI race. By leveraging Google’s Gemini model while continuing to build its own technology, Apple is betting on a hybrid approach, one that marries its renowned privacy standards with the power of cutting-edge generative AI. If successful, the reimagined Siri could finally deliver on the promise of a truly intelligent and capable digital assistant.

This article was written by the Covertly.AI team. Covertly.AI is a secure, anonymous AI chat that protects your privacy. Connect to advanced AI models without tracking, logging, or exposure of your data. Whether you’re an individual who values privacy or a business seeking enterprise-grade data protection, Covertly.AI helps you stay secure and anonymous when using AI. With Covertly.AI, you get seamless access to all popular large language models - without compromising your identity or data privacy.

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Works Cited

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