Apple confirmed it’s handing Siri’s intelligence over to Google’s Gemini models in a multi-year partnership that raises more questions than it answers. After years of Siri falling behind Alexa and Google Assistant, Apple is admitting it can’t fix the problem alone.
The deal gives Google control over the AI backbone powering Siri and other Apple Intelligence features, including real-time translation and image generation. Apple claims Gemini offers “the most capable foundation” for its AI ambitions, but that’s corporate speak for “we’re out of options.”
This comes after Apple scrapped its own Siri overhaul in March when executives realized their in-house AI didn’t work as promised. The failure forced Apple to shop around, and Google apparently won with a price tag Bloomberg pegged at $1 billion annually.
What’s awkward is Apple’s existing tie-up with OpenAI. ChatGPT already powers some Siri queries, and now Google is being layered on top. Two rival AI systems inside one assistant? Apple hasn’t explained how that’s supposed to work without creating a fragmented, confusing experience.
The timing also stings. Apple spent years positioning itself as the privacy-first alternative to Google, yet now it’s trusting Google’s infrastructure to handle user data and personalization. The irony isn’t lost on anyone.
Apple is betting this partnership will finally make Siri competitive again by spring 2026. But outsourcing your flagship assistant to your biggest rival isn’t a strategy—it’s damage control dressed up as innovation.
