Apple’s Plan to Upgrade Siri with Google’s Gemini AI Model

Introduction to the Partnership

Apple is reportedly teaming up with Google to build a custom AI model that will power a major upgrade to Siri, its virtual assistant. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the custom model, known as Gemini, will be used to improve Siri’s capabilities and is expected to be launched in spring 2026.

What’s Being Reported

Bloomberg reports that Apple conducted an internal evaluation of AI models from Google and Anthropic, another AI company, to determine which one would be the best fit for the next-generation Siri. Google’s Gemini model won out due to its financial terms, with Anthropic’s Claude model costing Apple more than $1.5 billion annually. The Gemini model will provide the query planner and summarizer components of Siri’s new architecture, while Apple’s own Foundation Models will continue to handle on-device personal data processing.

How the Partnership Will Work

The Gemini model will run on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, and Apple plans to market the updated Siri as its own technology, without promoting Google’s involvement. In practice, Gemini will operate behind the scenes, with Apple positioning the capabilities as its own work. The project has been given the internal codename "Glenwood."

Launch Timeline

The updated Siri is expected to be launched in spring 2026 as part of iOS 26.4. This timeline is also expected to coincide with the release of a smart home display device that could showcase the assistant’s expanded capabilities.

What We Don’t Know Yet

While the report provides some details about the partnership, there are still many unknowns. The financial terms of the deal are not publicly disclosed, and neither company has confirmed the partnership. The legal and technical data-handling arrangements are also not public, and it’s unclear whether the deal is finalized or still being negotiated.

Why This Matters

The partnership between Apple and Google has significant implications for the future of Siri and how it will answer questions. With Gemini powering the backend, Siri’s responses may change, and it’s unclear how sources will be credited. The deal could also reduce the need for early web discovery, as more answers will be generated within Siri and Spotlight on iPhone.

Looking Ahead

Apple has already taken steps to integrate AI into its products, including enabling ChatGPT access within Siri and Writing Tools as part of Apple Intelligence. The potential Gemini partnership would be Apple’s most consequential AI arrangement to date, as it would underpin core Siri functionality rather than optional features. As the launch of the updated Siri approaches, we can expect to learn more about the details of the partnership and how it will impact the user experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the reported partnership between Apple and Google to build a custom Gemini AI model for Siri has the potential to significantly improve the virtual assistant’s capabilities. While there are still many unknowns about the deal, it’s clear that Apple is committed to making Siri a more powerful and useful tool for its users. As the launch of the updated Siri approaches, we can expect to learn more about the details of the partnership and how it will impact the user experience.