Apple Taps Google’s Gemini to Power Next-Generation Siri AI

Apple is turning to Google to underpin its next wave of artificial intelligence capabilities, selecting Google’s Gemini models as the foundation for major AI upgrades coming later this year, including a revamped Siri.

In a joint statement obtained by CNBC, Apple said it chose Google after an internal review of available technologies, concluding that Gemini offered the strongest base for its own foundation models. While the AI will rely on Google’s technology, Apple emphasized that the models will continue to run on Apple devices and through its private cloud infrastructure, preserving the company’s focus on performance and user privacy.

The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Previous reporting suggested Apple had been exploring a custom Gemini model and considering annual payments of around $1 billion to access Google’s AI capabilities, though neither company confirmed those details.

The partnership highlights Google’s growing momentum in artificial intelligence. After years of playing catch-up following the debut of ChatGPT, Google has regained ground with rapid Gemini development and a strong 2025 performance that saw it surpass Apple in market capitalization for the first time since 2019. The agreement also builds on an already deep commercial relationship, with Google paying Apple billions of dollars annually to remain the default search engine on iPhones.

For Apple, the deal reflects rising pressure to deliver meaningful AI features after largely sitting out the early stages of the AI boom. While rivals such as Microsoft, Meta Platforms and Amazon have invested heavily in AI infrastructure and products, Apple delayed its major Siri AI upgrade until 2026, citing longer-than-expected development timelines.

Apple currently works with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri and Apple Intelligence for complex queries. The company said the new Google partnership does not change that arrangement, leaving ChatGPT in place for advanced, knowledge-based tasks.

Google, meanwhile, continues to push its AI agenda across products and cloud services. CEO Sundar Pichai has said the company’s cloud division signed more billion-dollar deals through the third quarter of 2025 than in the previous two years combined, underscoring enterprise demand for its AI stack.

With Gemini set to power a smarter Siri, the collaboration marks a notable convergence between two longtime rivals — and a clear signal that Apple is ready to play a bigger role in the AI era without abandoning its tightly controlled ecosystem.