Apple Inc. is close to finalising a deal with Alphabet Inc.’s Google to use its powerful 1.2 trillion parameter Gemini AI model to overhaul Siri, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
The partnership, expected to cost Apple around $1 billion annually, would represent one of the largest AI licensing arrangements in the technology industry and mark a significant shift in Apple’s long-guarded approach to artificial intelligence development.
The iPhone maker will use Google’s Gemini model as a stopgap until its own systems are ready, Bloomberg reported.
The move underscores Apple’s growing urgency to catch up in the rapidly advancing AI race.
Siri, first introduced in 2011, has long been criticised for lagging behind rival digital assistants from Google and Amazon.
Apple now hopes to relaunch Siri with more advanced generative AI capabilities in 2026, powered by Gemini’s computing strength.
Gemini’s scale set to redefine Siri’s intelligence
Google’s Gemini model, with its 1.2 trillion parameters, is vastly more complex than Apple’s current cloud-based system, which runs on a 150 billion parameter model.
The custom AI model, with 1.2 trillion parameters—a key indicator of its sophistication and processing power—would vastly surpass Apple’s existing systems.
By comparison, Apple’s current cloud-based model operates with about 150 billion parameters, making Google’s version nearly eight times more advanced.
The new setup will allow Siri to process intricate data, understand broader context, and execute multi-step tasks more naturally.
Internally code-named “Glenwood,” Apple’s project to rebuild Siri has been led by Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell and software engineering chief Craig Federighi.
The redesigned assistant, planned for iOS 26.4 and referred to internally as “Linwood,” will rely on Gemini for key functions such as summarising information and planning actions.
While Gemini will manage these advanced tasks, Apple’s proprietary models will continue to handle more basic Siri functions.
The new system will run on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers, keeping user data isolated from Google’s infrastructure.
The company has already allocated its own AI server hardware to support this setup, maintaining its strict privacy standards.
Partnership signals a rare Apple reliance on Google
Though Apple and Google have worked together before—most notably on the deal that makes Google the default search engine on Safari—this new partnership is distinct.
Apple is expected to position Google as a behind-the-scenes technology provider rather than a public-facing partner.
The agreement follows earlier, inconclusive discussions between the companies about integrating Gemini directly into Siri as a chatbot.
Those talks failed to materialise into a feature. The current arrangement also stops short of embedding Google’s AI search functions within Apple’s operating systems.
On Apple’s most recent earnings call, CEO Tim Cook said users could expect additional chatbot integrations in future versions of Siri, beyond the current ChatGPT option introduced earlier this year.
Rivals push ahead as Apple plays catch-up
Apple’s move comes as its competitors accelerate their AI rollouts.
Google integrated Gemini into its own Assistant last year, while Amazon introduced an AI-driven upgrade to Alexa earlier in 2025.
Microsoft, meanwhile, continues to expand its partnership with OpenAI to embed Copilot features across Windows and Office applications.
Apple’s Siri overhaul, delayed until next spring, is intended to close the gap.
The company plans to unveil a preview of the new assistant alongside next-generation iPhones in 2026, with features designed to make Siri more conversational and capable of performing nuanced tasks.
Ethan Feller, an analyst at Zacks Investment Research, said the deal signalled “a pragmatic shift” in Apple’s strategy.
“Apple is acknowledging that it cannot win the AI race alone—at least not yet,” he said. “By leveraging Google’s technology now, it’s buying time to develop something stronger internally.”
Google advances on multiple fronts
For Google, the partnership cements its position as a leading AI infrastructure provider.
In addition to powering Apple’s next-generation Siri, Google is in early discussions to deepen its investment in Anthropic, the AI startup behind the Claude chatbot, Business Insider reported.
The new funding round could value Anthropic at more than $350 billion.
Separately, Google’s $32 billion acquisition of cloud security firm Wiz is moving closer to completion after receiving clearance from the US Department of Justice.
Wiz CEO Assaf Rappaport said this week that while regulatory approval was a milestone, the deal still required further steps before closing.
Originally approached in 2024 with a $23 billion offer, Wiz ultimately agreed to a higher bid from Google in March 2025.
The acquisition is expected to close in early 2026, marking one of the largest cybersecurity transactions in history.
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