TL; DR
- Google’s custom Gemini models will form the basis of upcoming Apple Intelligence features, “including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”
- As previously rumored, the next-generation Siri, powered by Google’s Gemini AI models, is expected to be available for compatible devices in March or April 2026, alongside the public release of iOS 26.4.
In a relatively quiet announcement, Apple has joined forces with Google to write Siri’s next chapter of AI-driven innovation. The companies have entered into a multi-year collaboration, “under which the next generation of Apple’s Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology,” mentions Google in a short Keyword post.
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Gemini becomes the foundation for Apple Intelligence
The Gemini models will form the basis of upcoming Apple Intelligence features, “including a more personalized Siri coming this year.” The models will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, providing what Apple thinks is the “most capable foundation” for the company’s Foundation Models.
This wasn’t the first time we’ve heard about the potential deal between the companies, though. In August 2025, Bloomberg reported that the Cupertino giant was considering using a custom Gemini version to power the advanced Siri everyone has been waiting for.
A $1 billion-per-year AI access agreement
At the time, the companies were in the early stages of the deal, yet Apple planned to pay Google about $1 billion per year for access to Gemini models. That’s simply a concession to the multi-billion-dollar annual fees Google pays Apple for keeping its search engine the default on its devices.
Apple has partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri to handle complex queries. However, the scope of the partnership remains unclear if Apple rolls out Gemini-based Siri. According to a CNBC report, Apple isn’t making any changes to its partnership with OpenAI, implying that ChatGPT should continue to exist on the sidelines within Siri.
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When Gemini-powered Siri is expected to arrive
As previously rumored, the next-generation Siri, powered by Google’s Gemini AI models, is expected to be available for compatible devices in March or April 2026, alongside the public release of iOS 26.4.
The new capabilities should include a deeper understanding of user choices (or personal context), on-screen awareness, and per-app controls (as seen on Google Gemini on other phones). Just as Samsung has done, Apple could also base a couple of other Apple Intelligence features on Gemini AI.
A pivotal moment for Siri—and Apple’s AI strategy
Reacting to the official announcement, Elon Musk wrote in an X post that “this seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome.”
The collaboration with Apple strengthens Google’s position as a foundational AI provider across rival ecosystems, extending Gemini’s reach well beyond Android devices. For Apple, it signals a pragmatic push to accelerate Siri’s long-promised evolution while preserving Apple’s emphasis on local AI processing and privacy.
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