- Apple is exploring a deal with Google to integrate Gemini into Siri
- Talks began after Apple couldn’t finalize a deal with Anthropic
- Delays in Apple Intelligence leave Siri lagging behind rivals
- A Gemini partnership would mark a major shift in Apple’s AI strategy
Apple’s plans to supercharge Siri and deliver on the promises of Apple Intelligence may depend on a surprising ally: Google. According to Bloomberg, the two tech giants are in early discussions about using Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence models to bring long-awaited improvements to Siri.
The talks are still in their infancy, and neither Apple nor Google has confirmed any partnership. But the fact that Apple is even exploring the option suggests growing pressure inside Cupertino to close the widening gap between Siri and rival AI assistants from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google itself.
The potential collaboration follows reports that Apple failed to reach a financial agreement with Anthropic, the company behind Claude AI. With its options narrowing, Apple may now be considering Gemini as a shortcut to finally delivering the conversational, context-aware Siri experience that users have been promised for years but never truly received.
Why Apple Needs Help
Siri, introduced nearly 15 years ago, has struggled to evolve in step with competitors. While it handles basic commands, it has never offered the deep, natural, back-and-forth conversations that modern generative AI systems excel at. The release of ChatGPT in late 2022 reset consumer expectations, and since then Siri has looked increasingly dated.
Apple’s answer was Apple Intelligence, unveiled with great fanfare as part of its 2024 product lineup. The suite promised everything from smart writing tools to on-device AI assistance tailored to Apple’s ecosystem.
But execution has been bumpy. Many key features, including an upgraded Siri, have slipped behind schedule. The most advanced functionality may not arrive until 2026.
At this summer’s WWDC 2025, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi admitted the company’s first attempt at an AI system wasn’t ready for prime time.
“Fundamentally, we found that the limitations of the V1 architecture weren’t getting us to the quality level that we knew our customers needed and expected,” Federighi said. “As soon as we realized that, we let the world know we weren’t going to be able to put that out, and we were going to keep working on shifting to the new architecture.”
That delay leaves Apple vulnerable. Customers are already turning to alternatives like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude, while rivals such as Microsoft and Google push ahead with more advanced assistants. For Apple, partnering with Google could deliver a quick boost without waiting years for in-house models to mature.
The Stakes of a Gemini Deal
A Siri powered by Google Gemini would be transformative. Gemini comes in several versions, Gemini Pro, Flash, and Lite, that are designed to deliver highly capable generative AI across devices. Integrating one of these models into Siri could immediately make Apple’s assistant more conversational, context-aware, and useful.
But such a move would also represent a fundamental shift in Apple’s philosophy. For decades, the company has built its brand on tight control of its hardware and software. Admitting that it needs outside help in such a strategic area would be a rare concession.
It could also raise questions about privacy. Apple has long differentiated itself from rivals by emphasizing user security and data protection. Bringing in a third-party model from Google might complicate that message, even if Apple insists on safeguards.
And there is the competitive angle. Apple and Google are rivals in smartphones, tablets, and operating systems, but they are also long-standing partners. Google remains the default search engine on Safari, a deal that earns Apple billions annually.
Extending that relationship into artificial intelligence would deepen the companies’ entanglement at a time when regulators are already scrutinizing Big Tech’s dominance.
How We Got Here
Apple’s search for an AI partner has been anything but straightforward. Initially, the company was in talks with Anthropic, exploring a deal to use Claude’s generative capabilities. But Bloomberg reports those negotiations fell apart over money.
With Anthropic off the table, attention shifted to Google. While Apple has never explicitly said it would rely on another company’s AI to power Siri, the slow pace of its internal development may have forced its hand.
Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman has suggested Apple is still not fully committed to its own AI architecture. The company now faces a pivotal decision: continue trying to build everything in-house, or lean on a competitor to buy time.
Whatever path it chooses, the impact on the upcoming iOS 26 release will be limited. That update is expected to include incremental Apple Intelligence features but little progress for Siri. Any Gemini-powered overhaul would come later.
A Familiar Playbook
If Apple does bring Gemini into Siri, it would not be the first tech giant to take this route. Microsoft’s Copilot is essentially a rebranded version of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. By outsourcing to OpenAI, Microsoft was able to leapfrog its own AI limitations and quickly establish itself as a major player in the field.
Apple could follow a similar playbook, but at the cost of ceding some control. It would also have to manage the optics of branding its assistant as “Apple Intelligence” if Google’s technology is driving the brains behind it. The marketing spin may be as challenging as the technical integration.
What Comes Next
For now, all signs point to a waiting game. Discussions between Apple and Google are described as exploratory, with no guarantee of a final deal. Even if an agreement is reached, Siri won’t be transformed overnight.
But the very possibility of Gemini inside Siri highlights Apple’s increasingly urgent challenge in the AI race. Once the leader in smartphone innovation, Apple now risks falling behind if it can’t deliver an assistant that competes with the likes of ChatGPT and Gemini.
Apple and Google have both declined to comment on the talks. If the companies move forward, the partnership could reshape not just Siri, but the broader landscape of how consumers interact with AI on their devices.
Until then, users can expect Siri to remain largely unchanged, at least until Apple decides whether it wants to keep building its own AI future, or borrow one from a rival.
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