Apple Turns to Google’s Gemini to Power Next Phase of AI

Picture Credit: Quartz

Apple is set to take a major step forward in artificial intelligence by partnering with Google to power key AI features, including a long-awaited upgrade to Siri expected later this year. Under a multiyear agreement, Apple will rely on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology as the foundation for its future Apple Foundation Models, signaling a strategic shift in how the iPhone maker approaches AI development.

According to a joint statement, Apple said Google’s technology offered the “most capable foundation” for its next generation of AI features. While Google’s infrastructure will play a central role, both companies stressed that the models will continue to run on Apple devices and within Apple’s private cloud compute environment, preserving the company’s emphasis on user privacy and on-device processing. Financial terms were not disclosed, though earlier reports suggested Apple could be paying around $1 billion annually for access to Google’s AI capabilities.

The deal highlights Google’s resurgence in the AI race. After years of playing catch-up following the rise of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google has accelerated its AI push with rapid Gemini upgrades and strong growth in its cloud business. In 2025, Alphabet logged its best year in more than a decade and recently surpassed Apple in market capitalisation for the first time since 2019, underscoring renewed investor confidence in its AI strategy.

For Apple, the partnership reflects mounting pressure to deliver compelling AI features. While rivals such as Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Google have poured billions into AI infrastructure and tools, Apple has been relatively cautious. That restraint has drawn scrutiny, especially after the company delayed its Siri AI overhaul until 2026 despite promoting it in marketing campaigns. By leaning on Google’s proven AI stack, Apple appears to be accelerating its roadmap without fully abandoning its tightly controlled ecosystem.

The collaboration also adds a new layer to the already complex relationship between the two tech giants. Google already pays Apple billions each year to remain the default search engine on iPhones, a deal that has faced regulatory scrutiny amid antitrust rulings against Google. Recent court decisions, however, have allowed such partnerships to continue, clearing the way for deeper cooperation like the Gemini agreement.

Apple has said the new deal does not change its existing partnership with OpenAI, which currently powers ChatGPT integrations within Siri for complex, knowledge-based queries. However, Apple’s growing reliance on external AI leaders suggests a future where Siri and Apple Intelligence draw on multiple AI engines behind the scenes. As competition in AI intensifies, the Apple–Google alliance signals that even long-time rivals are willing to collaborate when the stakes are as high as the future of artificial intelligence.

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