Apple Is Betting on Google’s Gemini to Power the Next-Gen Siri

This is one of those Apple stories that would have sounded impossible a few years ago.

Apple is officially teaming up with Google to power its next generation of AI features, including the long-awaited overhaul of Siri. The partnership will use Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology as the foundation for Apple’s future AI system, while still running inside Apple’s own devices and private cloud infrastructure.

Yes, Apple is trusting Google with the brain behind Siri.

And that tells you everything about how serious this moment is.

The Partnership Is Real

According to a joint statement obtained by CNBC’s Jim Cramer, Apple and Google have entered a multi-year partnership to support Apple’s foundational AI models.

Apple put it like this:

“After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”

Apple also confirmed that these models will continue to run on Apple devices and Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, meaning Google is providing the AI foundation, not controlling the user data.

Apple declined to comment on financial terms. Google referred CNBC back to the joint statement.

This Has Been Brewing for Months

Back in August, Bloomberg reported that Apple was already in talks with Google about using a custom Gemini model to power a new version of Siri. Later reporting suggested Apple was planning to pay about $1 billion a year for access to Google’s AI.

At the time, it sounded speculative.

Now it’s official.

Why Apple Is Doing This

Apple has largely sat out the AI arms race that erupted after OpenAI launched ChatGPT in late 2022.

While Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta poured billions into AI infrastructure, models, and tools, Apple moved cautiously. It didn’t rush out a chatbot. It didn’t slap “AI” onto every product. And when it finally unveiled its Apple Intelligence and Siri upgrades, they weren’t ready.

Apple admitted that last year.

“It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.”

That delay pushed Siri’s big AI transformation into 2026, even though Apple had already been advertising it.

In short: Apple needed help.

Why Google, Not OpenAI

This is the most fascinating part.

Apple already works with OpenAI. ChatGPT is currently integrated into Siri and Apple Intelligence for complex queries that require broader world knowledge.

Apple says that agreement is not changing.

The company told CNBC it isn’t making any changes to the OpenAI deal, and OpenAI did not comment.

So now Apple has two AI partners:

OpenAI for conversational, knowledge-based AI
Google Gemini for the foundational models behind Siri and Apple Intelligence

That suggests Apple is building a layered system: its own software on top, powered by multiple AI engines underneath.

That’s very Apple.

Google Is Having a Moment

This deal is also a huge win for Google.

The company has been clawing its way back in the AI race after falling behind OpenAI. But 2025 changed everything.

Google logged its best year since 2009, and last week it surpassed Apple in market capitalization for the first time since 2019. Its upgraded Gemini 3 model rolled out late last year, and demand for its cloud and AI products is exploding.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai said in October that the company’s cloud division had signed more $1 billion-plus deals through Q3 of 2025 than in the previous two years combined.

Apple choosing Gemini is a massive validation of that comeback.

The Search Deal Still Matters

This also comes at a delicate time for Google.

Google already pays Apple billions of dollars a year to remain the default search engine on iPhones. That deal was briefly at risk after a judge ruled Google held an illegal search monopoly.

In September, the court rejected a worst-case outcome that would have forced Google to sell Chrome. That decision also cleared the way for Google to continue deals like this one with Apple.

In other words: the legal clouds lifted just in time for this partnership to happen.

What This Means for Siri

Siri hasn’t just been bad.

It’s been left behind.

This deal is Apple’s reset button.

By using Gemini as the AI backbone while keeping everything inside Apple’s privacy-first infrastructure, Apple gets the best of both worlds: modern AI and Apple-style control.

This isn’t Apple copying ChatGPT.

This is Apple trying to build a real assistant that finally understands what you’re saying, what you mean, and what you want to do next.

And for the first time in a long time, Siri might actually be ready for that future.

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Eric Sandler

Chief Writer at WiFi Planet

Eric Sandler is a veteran US tech writer with over 25 years of experience covering the latest advancements in the world of technology. From groundbreaking innovations to in-depth reviews, Eric has built a reputation for delivering insightful, reliable content. His work spans across a variety of tech topics, including smartphones, gadgets, AI, and more, making him a trusted voice in the industry.