Apple breaks with tradition in landmark Google AI partnership

Apple has entered into a multi-year partnership with Google to integrate Gemini artificial intelligence models into the next generation of Siri, marking a shift in the company’s approach to developing artificial intelligence capabilities.

Under the agreement, Gemini models will be incorporated into Siri and broader Apple Intelligence features across Apple’s ecosystem. The updated digital assistant is expected to launch later this year and will draw on Google’s AI models and cloud infrastructure to deliver more advanced and human-like interactions.

The deal represents a change for Apple, which has traditionally relied on developing its core technologies internally. By working with Google, the company is aiming to accelerate the rollout of enhanced AI features as it prepares what it describes as its most ambitious redesign of Siri to date.

The next version of Siri is expected to use Gemini’s generative capabilities alongside Google’s cloud framework to improve conversational ability and responsiveness. The integration is intended to strengthen Apple Intelligence features across devices, while continuing to operate within Apple’s broader ecosystem.

For Google and its parent company Alphabet, the partnership extends the reach of Gemini by embedding the models within Apple’s widely used products. The agreement provides Google with an opportunity to showcase its AI technology to a large global user base.

The collaboration highlights how major technology companies are increasingly working together in areas such as artificial intelligence, as the pace of development accelerates and competition intensifies across the sector.