Apple is preparing to finalize a billion-dollar deal with Google to integrate Gemini into Siri.
Despite its resources, Apple has fallen significantly behind. Its engineers are struggling to keep pace with updates to Gemini and the advances made by OpenAI. Several key talents have left the company to join these pioneers. Once a symbol of independent innovation, the company now finds itself reliant on the expertise of its biggest rival to remain relevant.
The Admission of a Significant Delay
It has been widely noted that Apple is facing a crisis of confidence in its AI strategy. After promising a revolution called Apple Intelligence in 2024, the company has delivered only unfinished features.
Siri, which was expected to undergo a revival with generative AI, still struggles to understand context or handle complex requests. In light of this failure, the Cupertino giant is willing to pay around one billion dollars annually for the use of Gemini, the most advanced AI model from its historical competitor.
The agreement stipulates that Google’s model, containing 1.2 trillion parameters, will enhance certain functions of Apple’s future Siri. This model would synthesize complex requests, schedule actions, and provide the most refined answers.
Siri, which remains visible, would essentially become the voice of an intelligence powered by Mountain View. However, data processing would occur within Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers, isolated from Google’s infrastructure.
No personal data would be transferred to the search engine’s databases. Thus, Gemini would function as a cognitive subcontractor, a borrowed brain but one under careful supervision.
The company aims to avoid repeating the error made with the Safari browser, where using Google as the default search engine triggered antitrust investigations in the United States.
The Future Siri Under Gemini
The upcoming Siri, expected with iOS 26.4 next spring, is set to combine multiple intelligences. Simple requests will continue to be managed by in-house models.
In contrast, complex requests will be routed through Gemini. The Glenwood system, overseen by Craig Federighi and Mike Rockwell, oversees the software and the Vision Pro headset.
This reliance on Google is temporary, as Apple hopes to replace it within a year. An in-house model boasting one billion parameters is currently in development.
However, achieving the quality of Gemini remains a distant goal. Google’s model dominates global rankings due to its contextual understanding and ability to plan complex sequences.
The name Gemini will not appear in Siri’s menus nor in Tim Cook’s presentations. The CEO recently confirmed during the last investor call that Siri will soon host multiple conversational agents.
ChatGPT will remain integrated, while Apple explores additional solutions to allow users to choose the most suitable AI for each specific need. Following Bloomberg’s announcement, Apple’s stock saw a slight uptick, while Alphabet recorded a rise of over 3%.
