It is now official. Apple has chosen to partner with Google, a longtime collaborator, to power new AI features for Siri. In a joint statement, the companies said, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”
This announcement confirms earlier reports about such a deal. While neither company has confirmed the financial terms, previous indications suggest Apple could be paying Google around one billion dollars annually for access to its AI technology. This agreement follows a period where Apple also tested the AI technology of competitors like OpenAI and Anthropic.
The multi-year partnership will involve Apple using Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology for its future foundational models. According to a source, the deal is not exclusive. This move represents a shift for Apple, which has historically focused on vertical integration by relying on its own hardware and software.
Apple has faced public criticism that its AI efforts, particularly with its Siri assistant, have lagged behind rivals. This is not to say the company has been idle. It released the first versions of Apple Intelligence in 2024, which adds AI to existing operating system functions like searching for photos and summarizing notifications. Apple has also emphasized privacy in its AI rollout, with much processing happening on-device or through tightly controlled infrastructure. The company states it will maintain these privacy standards throughout the partnership with Google.
This strategy has resulted in a subtle, sometimes invisible, and occasionally criticized form of AI that lacks the immediate “wow” factor of tools like ChatGPT or Gemini. It also stops short of delivering the comprehensive Siri overhaul many users have anticipated.
Apple has delayed the rollout of its “more personalized Siri” voice assistant several times, but a spokesperson confirmed an upgrade is coming this year. Previous reports indicate the revamped Siri is expected to launch in the spring.
Apple’s new partnership with Google arrives as Google itself is involved in multiple antitrust lawsuits, including one that highlighted its relationship with Apple. In August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in online search by paying companies, including Apple, to set its search engine as the default on devices and browsers. Between 2021 and 2022, Google paid Apple approximately thirty-eight billion dollars for these default placements.
In December 2025, the judge issued final remedies in the case, which include banning Google from entering into exclusive default agreements like its previous deal with Apple, unless such agreements terminate no more than one year after they are signed.