Apple Selects Google's Gemini Models as the Foundation for the Next Generation of Siri: A Strategic Partnership That Changes the Rules of AI Competition
On January 14, 2026, Apple officially announced its selection of Google's advanced Gemini AI models as the primary technical foundation for developing the next generation of its voice assistant, Siri. This announcement marks a significant strategic shift for Apple, which has historically relied on developing its AI capabilities in-house, and reflects a recognition of the power of Google's models in natural language processing and complex tasks.
Partnership Context and Technical Details
The announcement came after months of speculation and leaks, and builds upon a previous, limited collaboration with OpenAI (ChatGPT) within the Apple Intelligence features of iOS 18 and macOS Sequoia, where complex requests were routed to ChatGPT after user approval. However, the new partnership with Google is much deeper: Gemini models (including Gemini 2.0 Flash and Gemini Pro) will be directly integrated into Siri's architecture, giving it deeper contextual understanding, faster response times, and the ability to execute multi-step tasks without the need to route requests externally in many cases. According to CNBC, Apple will leverage Google Cloud's infrastructure to process complex requests while maintaining its renowned high privacy standards, such as on-device processing for most requests and end-to-end encryption.
Impact of the Partnership on Siri and Market Competition
- This collaboration will lead to significant improvements in Siri, including:
- Better understanding of complex contexts and lengthy conversations.
- Simultaneous multi-app task execution (such as booking a flight, sending messages, and managing a calendar).
- Stronger support for multiple languages, including Modern Standard Arabic and local dialects.
- Advanced capabilities in automatic programming, writing assistance, and analysis.
This move is seen as an acknowledgment by Apple that competition in generative AI has become fiercer, and that relying on strategic partnerships is essential to keep pace with Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
Market Reaction: Apple and Google Shares Rise
The stock market reacted positively to the announcement immediately. Apple shares rose 3.2% in after-hours trading, while Google (Alphabet) shares climbed 2.7%, reflecting investor confidence that the partnership will bolster both companies' positions in the rapidly growing artificial intelligence market, which is projected to reach trillions of dollars by 2030.
Expert Views: A Strategic Shift for Apple
Analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo and Dan Ives of Wedbush described the move as "smart and pragmatic," suggesting that Apple prefers partnerships with technically strong companies rather than building everything in-house at high cost and time. Others, however, saw it as "a tacit admission of Apple's lag" in the generative AI race compared to Google.
Bottom Line: The Future of Siri and AI Competition
This partnership represents a turning point in Apple's strategy, transforming Siri from a traditional voice assistant into a strong competitor in the world of integrated intelligent assistants. As Apple Intelligence continues to develop, Siri is expected to gain direct competitiveness with Gemini and ChatGPT, while maintaining its privacy advantage and deep integration with the Apple ecosystem. According to reliable leaks, the updated version of Siri will begin rolling out gradually with the iOS 19 and macOS 16 updates in the second half of 2026.
