Apple has officially chosen Google’s Gemini models to power the next major evolution of Siri, marking one of the most significant shifts in Apple’s artificial intelligence strategy to date. The multi-year partnership brings Apple and Google closer together at a moment when competition in AI has become one of the defining battles in global tech.
According to a joint statement obtained by CNBC, Apple will rely on Google’s Gemini AI and cloud infrastructure to support its future Apple Foundation Models. These models will underpin a revamped, AI-infused version of Siri expected to roll out later this year.
Apple said it selected Google after extensive internal evaluation, concluding that Gemini offered the strongest technical foundation for its long-term AI ambitions. While the models will tap into Google’s technology, Apple emphasized that processing will continue to run on devices and within its own private cloud compute environment, maintaining its long-standing focus on user privacy.
Financial details were not disclosed, but earlier reporting suggested Apple could be paying roughly $1 billion annually for access to Google’s AI capabilities. Neither company confirmed that figure. Google referred all questions back to the joint statement, while Apple declined to comment on commercial terms.
The move comes as Google regains momentum in the AI race. After years of playing catch-up following the launch of ChatGPT, Google has accelerated development of its Gemini models and logged its strongest year in more than a decade. Last week, Google briefly surpassed Apple in market capitalization, underlining how dramatically investor sentiment has shifted around artificial intelligence leadership.
For Apple, the decision highlights mounting pressure to deliver on AI promises. The company has largely stayed on the sidelines of the AI spending boom that has seen rivals like Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon pour billions into data centers and models. Apple delayed its major Siri AI overhaul last year, pushing it into 2026 despite already advertising the features.
Apple currently works with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri for complex queries. The company said the new Google partnership does not change that agreement, leaving open the possibility of Siri routing different requests to different AI systems behind the scenes.
The alliance also adds another layer to Apple and Google’s already deep relationship, which includes billions paid annually for Google to remain the default search engine on iPhones. Despite regulatory scrutiny of Google’s market power, recent court rulings have allowed such partnerships to continue.
By tapping Gemini, Apple is signaling that it is ready to move faster on AI, even if that means leaning on a longtime rival to do it.