Apple and Google sign AI agreement to introduce Gemini model to Siri
Apple and Google announced they have embarked on a multi-year partnership that will put Google’s Gemini model and cloud technologies at the core of the next generation Apple Foundation model. This would allow Apple to accelerate long-promised upgrades to Siri while also giving Google high-profile distribution rights on the iPhone.
How are Apple and Google positioning this deal?
Under the agreement, “the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini model and cloud technology,” the companies said in a joint statement. They said these models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a “more personalized Siri” expected this year.
Apple framed the partnership as a technology choice rather than a retreat from its artificial intelligence ambitions. “After careful evaluation,” Apple concluded that Google’s AI provides the “most capable foundation” for Apple Foundation Models, the companies said. They added that Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and through Apple’s private cloud computing, while “maintaining Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards.”
competitive environment
The deal comes after months of scrutiny over Apple’s progress in generative AI, as rivals spend billions of dollars developing chips, data centers and Frontier models, and smartphone competitors sell AI-first devices. Apple is pitching Apple Intelligence as an on-device system complemented by tightly controlled cloud options, but major upgrades to Siri in particular have taken longer than the company originally indicated.
The non-exclusive structure leaves Apple with room to continue leveraging multiple model providers. Apple is already working with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT with Siri and Apple Intelligence, giving users the option to route more complex requests to ChatGPT.
Analysts and legal experts said the new partnership could raise familiar questions about Apple and Google’s relationship, which has long been a mix of conflict and cooperation, particularly through Google’s default search placement on Apple devices.
Emphasis on privacy
Morningstar analyst William Kerwin said: The Verge The joint statement’s emphasis on private cloud computing suggests the deal looks similar to a continuation of Apple’s existing model from a privacy perspective, with Apple likely asking for permission before sharing data directly with Google. Morningstar analysts said the agreement could help Apple’s privacy reputation “keep intact” because Apple will use Gemini instances on its own servers and in its own data centers via private cloud computing. The Verge Reported.
