Apple has finally laid out its AI strategy card. According to CNBC, the company has selected Google's Gemini as the core AI engine for Siri and other Apple products, signing a multi-year agreement to bring advanced generative AI to Apple devices.
Gemini Powers Apple Foundation Models
The partnership relies on Google's Gemini large language model and cloud infrastructure to support Apple's proprietary 'Apple Foundation Models.' Apple stated that after careful evaluation, Gemini best meets its AI foundation model requirements in terms of performance and maturity. The move promises to deliver new intelligent experiences and unlock more innovative possibilities for Apple's product lineup.
Siri's upgrades will focus on complex reasoning, summarization, planning, and multi-step task execution, aiming to bring Apple's virtual assistant closer to the performance of ChatGPT or Claude. According to 9to5mac, the Gemini model will run entirely on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, with no user data shared with Google for training — a significant privacy advantage over the current optional ChatGPT integration in Siri.
From Rumors to Reality: A Rocky Road for Siri AI
The deal didn't come out of the blue. Bloomberg reported in August 2025 that Apple was in talks with Google to adopt a customized Gemini model as the engine for a new Siri. Yet Apple has been relatively cautious in AI; its planned Siri AI upgrade was delayed to 2026, raising questions about its competitive edge.
Since OpenAI's ChatGPT launch in late 2022, the AI investment boom has reshaped the tech landscape. Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have poured billions into AI R&D, increasing pressure on Apple. Meanwhile, Google has accelerated its AI efforts, releasing an upgraded Gemini 3 model in late 2025 and scoring big cloud deals — Google CEO Sundar Pichai noted that as of Q3 2025, the cloud unit had signed more contracts worth over $1 billion than in the previous two years combined.
Following the announcement, Alphabet's stock briefly hit $334, pushing its market cap above $4 trillion. The market sees Apple's decision to partner with an external AI leader as a sign that even the most tightly integrated hardware-software ecosystem needs mature AI partners to stay competitive in the generative AI era.