Apple and Google have signed a multi-year AI partnership that puts Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology behind Apple’s next-generation “Apple Foundation Models,” including a more personalized Siri expected to arrive this year.
The deal signals a major strategic shift for Apple’s AI roadmap at a moment when the company has faced criticism for Siri’s slow progress and a delayed assistant overhaul.
What was announced, and what changes for Siri
Apple’s next wave of AI features will be built on Google’s Gemini models, with Google’s cloud technology supporting Apple’s future foundation-layer AI work. The companies say the partnership will help power Apple Intelligence features, and they specifically point to a more personalized Siri coming this year.
Even with Gemini in the stack, Apple says Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and through Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, a setup Apple positions as central to its privacy approach. Apple and Google have not publicly detailed exactly which Siri tasks will route through Gemini versus Apple’s own systems, but the announcement makes clear Gemini will sit at the “foundation model” level for Apple’s next generation.
Why Apple is leaning on Google now
Apple has shipped early versions of Apple Intelligence, but reports and commentary around the rollout have often focused on what users still haven’t gotten—especially a modern, deeply upgraded Siri. The rollout has also heightened pressure as rivals push assistants built on rapidly improving large language models.
The joint statement frames Google’s models as the strongest base Apple could choose after evaluation, suggesting Apple prioritized capability and maturity over a fully in-house foundation model path for this phase. The partnership also reflects a broader reality in 2026: cutting-edge AI systems increasingly depend on massive infrastructure, and aligning with a hyperscaler can accelerate shipping timelines.
Money, exclusivity, and the competitive ripple effects
Neither company disclosed financial terms, but reporting has suggested Apple could pay around $1 billion for access to Google’s AI technology. The arrangement has also been described as not exclusive, meaning Apple can keep working with other AI providers where it makes sense.
That non-exclusive structure matters because Apple already brought OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its ecosystem in 2024, letting Siri tap ChatGPT for certain complex requests. Apple has indicated there were no major changes to the existing ChatGPT integration at the time of this Gemini announcement, raising the likelihood that Siri will route different queries to different systems depending on context and user choice.
The tie-up is widely seen as a win for Alphabet because it extends Gemini’s reach into Apple’s massive device base and strengthens Google’s position in the AI race against OpenAI. The deal also comes as Gemini already underpins parts of Samsung’s “Galaxy AI,” and landing Apple broadens Google’s footprint across premium devices.
Privacy and regulatory pressure in the background
Privacy is a predictable flashpoint whenever a device-maker known for tight control partners with a major ad-driven platform, and the companies directly addressed it in their announcement. They say Apple Intelligence will keep running on-device and on Private Cloud Compute while maintaining Apple’s privacy standards, positioning Apple—not Google—as the steward of sensitive user data flows.
Regulators may still scrutinize how much power this concentrates in a handful of AI providers, especially given Google’s existing dominance in search and mobile ecosystems. The relationship may draw added attention because some regulators have already examined how default placements and major distribution deals shape competition.
For everyday users, the immediate question is simpler: whether Siri finally feels faster, more capable, and more consistent across iPhone, iPad, and Mac—without creating new privacy tradeoffs.
