Google's 1.2 Trillion Parameter Model to Become the Brain Behind the New Siri

Apple Inc. is reportedly nearing a finalized agreement with Alphabet Inc.'s Google to license an exceptionally powerful 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model, a collaboration expected to cost Apple approximately $1 billion annually. This sophisticated Google technology is intended to serve as the foundation for the long-anticipated overhaul of the Siri voice assistant. Following a thorough evaluation that included testing models from OpenAI and Anthropic, Apple focused on Google's Gemini, seeking an interim solution until its own proprietary models achieve the required complexity. This custom Gemini system represents a substantial leap in capability from Apple's current cloud-based model, vastly increasing Siri’s power to process complex data and understand context, particularly for its summarizer and planner functions. The enhanced Siri is anticipated for release next spring as part of iOS 26.4, an internal initiative led by executives Mike Rockwell and Craig Federighi. Importantly, the Gemini model will operate on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers, ensuring that user data remains isolated from Google's infrastructure.

Despite the critical role of this partnership, Apple is likely to treat Google as a discreet technology vendor rather than publicly promoting the collaboration, differentiating it from the prior agreement making Google the default search engine on the Safari browser. This strategic reliance on external technology underscores Apple's current need to rapidly advance its AI capabilities to compete with industry leaders. Although this substantial partnership is in place, Apple management views it as a temporary measure; the company remains committed to developing its own technology and is actively working on a 1 trillion parameter cloud-based model that it hopes will eventually replace the customized Gemini solution. The competitive landscape remains challenging, however, as Google continues to enhance its models, with the Gemini Pro version generally ranking highly among large language models. Furthermore, Apple is developing a separate strategy for bringing the new Siri and Apple Intelligence to China, where Google services are banned; this localized version will likely utilize in-house models and a content filtering layer developed in cooperation with Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., and Apple has also explored a potential partnership with Baidu Inc. for its Chinese AI offerings.