Google has publicly confirmed that Gemini-powered Siri is on the way, saying Apple is using Gemini technology for the next generation of Apple Foundation Models and that a more personalized Siri is coming later in 2026. The disclosure has sharpened focus on Apple’s WWDC 2026 event, which begins June 8, because Apple plans to introduce iOS 27 there, and multiple reports say Siri and Apple Intelligence updates are expected to be central topics.
Google Confirms Gemini Role
At Google Cloud Next 2026 in Las Vegas, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said Apple is working with Google as its preferred cloud provider to build new Apple Foundation Models based on Gemini. According to those reports, the same models are expected to power future Apple Intelligence features as well as the more personalized version of Siri that Google said will arrive later this year. That public confirmation stands out because Apple had already committed to launching new Siri features in 2026, but Google’s comments offered the clearest outside acknowledgment yet that Gemini is part of the plan.
Siri Overhaul Takes Shape
Reports on the upcoming assistant describe a major change in how Siri works, moving away from isolated one-off commands toward ongoing conversations that can handle follow-up questions and multiple requests in a single interaction. Those reports also say Siri is being rebuilt to use personal context and understand what is on the screen, which could allow it to respond in a way that feels closer to today’s AI chatbots. Coverage from this week also says Apple is redesigning Siri’s interface and exploring a chat-oriented experience, with one report noting that Apple has even been testing a dedicated Siri app with chat history. MacRumors separately reported that Apple has been preparing for heavier cloud demand around the smarter Siri launch and has asked Google to investigate server setups in Google data centers.
Launch Timing Still Broad
Even with Google’s confirmation, the exact rollout schedule is still being described in broad terms rather than with a fixed public release date. Google said the more personalized Siri is coming later this year, while MacRumors reported that Apple has said only that the update is due in 2026 and has not given a more specific official launch window. Several reports connect the broader launch to iOS 27, which is expected later in 2026, while also suggesting WWDC may serve as the first major public look at the revamped assistant.
Apple’s path to this point has been slower than many expected. Business Insider said Apple delayed its AI-overhauled Siri after deciding it was not ready, and MacRumors noted that Apple first pushed the smarter Siri timeline in March 2025 before continuing to point to a 2026 release. That delay has added pressure to this year’s update, especially as reports describe Apple trying to close the gap with chat-style AI products from rivals.
Broader AI Plans Emerge
Separate reports say Apple is also considering opening Siri to third-party AI services beyond its current partnership with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Those reports say users could eventually send certain requests to other AI tools from within Siri, including Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude, which would turn Siri into more of an AI gateway than a closed assistant. India Today and Newskarnataka also reported that Apple could take a share of subscription revenue generated through those integrations, though Apple has not officially detailed such a plan.
Another sign of how seriously Apple is treating the reboot came from a report that a group of less than 200 Siri engineers is being sent to a multi-week bootcamp to improve AI coding skills. That report said Apple wants part of the Siri organization to catch up with fast-moving AI coding tools, underscoring how much internal work is happening behind the scenes before the new assistant reaches users.
For Apple, the upgrade is about more than just making Siri sound smarter. The reporting across this week points to a broader reset of Apple Intelligence, with Gemini helping power both Siri and future AI features as Apple prepares to show its next steps at WWDC in June. If that strategy lands well at WWDC, the Gemini-powered Siri reveal could become one of the most closely watched Apple announcements of 2026.
