Apple Selects Google’s Gemini to Drive Upcoming Siri Revamp

Apple has entered a multiyear agreement with Google to integrate the Gemini family of artificial-intelligence models into future Apple products, including a substantial upgrade to the Siri voice assistant scheduled for release later this year. The collaboration, confirmed in a joint statement obtained by CNBC, joins two of the world’s most valuable technology companies in a shared effort to speed up the deployment of consumer-facing generative AI.

Under the arrangement, Gemini models will run directly on Apple devices and within the company’s “private cloud compute” architecture. This hybrid approach maintains on-device processing while allowing more complex tasks to be offloaded to Apple-controlled servers. Specific financial terms were not disclosed, and Apple declined to provide additional details about the length of the contract or any revenue-sharing provisions. Google, referring inquiries to the joint statement, offered no further comment.

Background to the Agreement

Reports of early discussions surfaced in August, when Bloomberg indicated Apple was exploring a custom Gemini implementation for a redesigned Siri experience. Subsequent reporting suggested Apple might pay roughly $1 billion per year for access to Google’s AI technology, though neither company has verified that figure.

The deal expands an existing relationship in which Google already compensates Apple with multibillion-dollar fees to remain the default search engine on iPhones. That partnership came under scrutiny during a recent U.S. antitrust case targeting Google’s search dominance, but a September court decision avoided a forced divestiture of Google’s Chrome browser, preserving the company’s ability to strike additional agreements. Further context on the antitrust action can be found on the U.S. Department of Justice website.

Strategic Significance for Apple

Apple has been under mounting pressure to demonstrate progress in generative AI since OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022. Competitors Amazon, Meta Platforms and Microsoft have poured billions of dollars into AI infrastructure and services, prompting investor questions about Apple’s comparatively slow public rollout. In 2023 the iPhone maker acknowledged that delivering an enhanced Siri would take longer than anticipated, pushing some features back to 2026 despite advertising campaigns that had hinted at earlier availability.

The new partnership aims to close that perceived gap. By tapping Gemini, Apple gains access to a model suite designed for conversational responses, code generation, image analysis and other tasks that align with anticipated Siri enhancements. Apple stated that a thorough internal review found Google’s technology to be the most suitable foundation for upcoming Apple AI models and predicted that the integration would “unlock innovative experiences” for users.

Implications for Google

For Google, the agreement with Apple adds another high-profile endorsement of its AI strategy after a period of intensified competition with OpenAI. The Mountain View-based firm launched Gemini 3 late last year and reported that its cloud division had secured more than $1 billion in contracts to be executed through the third quarter of 2025—surpassing the combined value of similar deals signed in the previous two years. Market sentiment has been buoyant: Alphabet briefly exceeded a $4 trillion market capitalization last week, eclipsing Apple for the first time since 2019.

Imagem: Internet

The collaboration also underscores Google’s broader rebound. According to the companies’ statement, the new arrangement does not alter existing agreements involving default search placement on Apple devices. That continuity helps safeguard a revenue stream that many analysts view as critical to Google’s advertising business.

Relationship With OpenAI Remains Unchanged

Apple currently routes certain complex Siri queries to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, a setup introduced with the Apple Intelligence initiative. Apple told CNBC there are no immediate changes to that integration. OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment, leaving the long-term coexistence of ChatGPT and Gemini within Apple’s ecosystem unclear.

Market Reaction

Shares of both companies rose on initial reports of the deal before paring gains later in the session. Although Apple’s stock has lagged large-cap technology peers throughout much of the recent AI-driven rally, investors appeared encouraged by the prospect of a near-term Siri overhaul. Alphabet shares, meanwhile, continued to reflect confidence in the company’s AI momentum, adding to gains accumulated during what executives described as Google’s strongest overall performance since 2009.

Next Steps

Apple plans to debut Gemini-powered Siri features before the end of the year. The company has not specified whether the rollout will coincide with the next major iOS release or arrive through separate software updates. Additional information about deployment schedules, supported devices and user privacy safeguards is expected closer to launch.

Crédito da imagem: CNBC