Apple Partners with Google and Gemini: A Major Leap for Siri’s Capabilities!

Following several months of speculation and delays, the partnership has been made official. On Monday, January 12, 2026, Apple confirmed a multi-year partnership with Google to boost the future capabilities of Apple Intelligence, including a long-awaited personalized version of Siri. The possibility of a partnership with a major AI player had been under consideration for months; Apple had explored technologies from OpenAI and Anthropic before opting for its longstanding partner, with whom it already collaborates on the default search engine for iOS.

Gemini at the Forefront of the New Apple Intelligence Generation

The partnership stipulates that Apple will use Google’s Gemini models and cloud infrastructure to develop the next generation of its core models (Apple Foundation Models). This collaboration will extend beyond just Siri, powering a broader array of Apple Intelligence features, the specifics of which are yet to be detailed. In a joint statement, both companies mentioned that after “a thorough evaluation”, Google’s technology was found to provide “the most effective foundation” for Apple’s models, and they are “excited about the innovative new experiences” this partnership will unlock for users.

While Apple and Google have not disclosed the financial terms of the agreement, previous reports by Bloomberg suggest that Apple might pay around 1 billion dollars annually to Google for access to its AI models. Apple has assured that its privacy standards will be upheld, with data processing occurring on devices or via its Private Cloud Compute servers, ensuring that user data does not traverse Google’s infrastructure. The partnership is also not exclusive, leaving room for potential future collaborations with other AI entities.

A Redesigned Siri Expected in Spring 2026

The upgraded version of Siri, which has been delayed multiple times, is now expected to launch in spring 2026 with iOS 26.4, scheduled for release in March or April according to sources. This update is set to enhance Siri’s understanding of personal context, its ability to analyze on-screen content, and provide deeper controls within apps. For instance, users will be able to ask Siri about the arrival time of a friend’s flight or their restaurant reservations using information from Mail and Messages. These features were introduced during WWDC 2024, but their rollout had been postponed.

This partnership comes as Apple faces ongoing criticism over Siri’s lagging performance compared to competitors like ChatGPT and Google Assistant. Launched in 2024, Apple Intelligence, which includes functionalities like Writing Tools, Image Playground, and notification summaries, has yet to implement the promised overhaul of its voice assistant, and these initial AI features have struggled to meet expectations. The alliance with Google also occurs amidst a sensitive antitrust climate: Google was fined in August 2024 for maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search, notably through its deal with Apple, which makes it the default search engine on iOS, a contract valued at 38 billion dollars between 2021 and 2022.