Apple’s Big AI Upgrade: Apple is reportedly close to signing a massive deal with Google to use one of Google’s most powerful AI systems—an enormous 1.2 trillion-parameter model—to finally deliver the major Siri upgrade it promised earlier this year. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple may pay around $1 billion a year for access to Google’s model, which would become the intelligence behind the new Siri experience.
This update was originally expected to arrive with the announcement at WWDC 2024, but Apple has delayed the rollout several times. Now, with testing and negotiations nearly done, both companies are working to finalize the agreement.
Apple Considered Other AI Partners First
Before choosing Google, Apple reportedly explored using several third-party AI models, including those from Anthropic—the company behind Claude. However, the financial terms and other business considerations didn’t align, leading Apple to continue discussions with Google instead.
Apple and Google already have one of the biggest tech agreements in place: Google pays Apple billions of dollars every year to remain the default search engine on iPhones. The new AI deal would build on that existing relationship, but this time, instead of search, the focus is Siri’s intelligence.
Inside Apple’s Siri Upgrade Project
The revamped version of Siri is internally referred to as Project Glenwood. It is reportedly led by:
- Mike Rockwell, the visionary behind the Apple Vision Pro headset, and
- Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior VP of Software Engineering.
The updated Siri experience is expected to launch as part of iOS 26.4, a future software update currently code-named Linwood.
This major overhaul aims to make Siri smarter, more conversational, and better at handling real tasks—not just answering simple questions.
What Google’s Gemini Model Will Do for Siri
Google’s Gemini model—especially this advanced, ultra-large version—would help Siri handle:
- Summarizing information from apps or documents
- Planning and executing multi-step actions (for example: “Plan a weekend trip for me” or “Organize all my school emails and set reminders”)
- Understanding more natural, human-like speech
While Gemini would assist with the heavy reasoning and planning work, not all Siri features will depend on Google. Apple plans to continue using its own internal AI models for simpler tasks and device-based processing.
In other words, Gemini is expected to act as a temporary intelligence booster, not a permanent replacement.
Apple Wants to Keep User Data Private
Even though Apple would be using Google’s model, the AI will not run inside Google’s servers.
Instead, it will run on Apple’s own Private Cloud Compute systems, which are built with strong privacy protections.
This means:
- Google will not have access to user data,
- Your personal information never leaves Apple’s control,
- And your Siri requests stay encrypted.
Apple is extremely cautious about user privacy and intends to keep Google’s role strictly behind the scenes.
No, Siri Won’t Turn Into Google Gemini or a Chatbot
Interestingly, while Gemini will power Siri’s thinking, Apple is not planning to use Gemini as a direct chatbot inside Siri.
This won’t be like asking “Hey Siri, chat with Gemini.”
Instead:
- Gemini works in the background
- Siri remains Siri
- The experience will feel like Siri just got a lot smarter
In fact, Apple doesn’t want to publicly highlight this Google partnership at all. The plan is to treat Google purely as a quiet technology supplier.
Siri Already Sends Complex Requests to ChatGPT
Currently, when Siri cannot answer a hard question, it routes the query to ChatGPT.
But users don’t have the option to choose any other AI chatbot.
At one point earlier in 2024, Apple and Google were close to letting Siri use Gemini as one of its chatbot options, but the idea did not move forward—likely because of business, branding, and privacy concerns.
Apple Is Building Its Own Giant AI Model
The partnership with Google is expected to be temporary.
Inside Apple, engineers are developing their own cloud-based model with around 1 trillion parameters, which could be ready for real-world use as soon as next year.
Apple executives reportedly believe their in-house model could eventually match the quality of Google’s customized Gemini version.
The Takeaway
If the deal is finalized, users could start seeing the super-charged Siri experience next year. The update could:
- Make Siri more helpful and capable
- Allow it to handle more natural conversations
- Improve real-world task execution and planning
But behind the simplicity of “Hey Siri” will be one of the most powerful AI engines ever used in a consumer device—and a quiet but major partnership between two of the biggest rivals in tech.
