Apple teams up with Google for AI power: Siri to get Gemini brain
Apple and Google have announced a multi-year artificial intelligence partnership that will see Apple’s upcoming AI features – including Siri – powered by Google’s Gemini technology. The move marks one of the most significant strategic shifts in Apple’s recent history, as the company has traditionally relied on in-house technology for core software capabilities.
Apple said it selected Google’s Gemini AI after a “careful evaluation”, calling it the most capable foundation for the company’s AI roadmap.
Alphabet shares surged following the announcement, pushing the company past the $4 trillion valuation threshold, while analysts described the deal as a “major validation moment” for Google and a course-correction opportunity for Apple’s AI strategy.
Why is the Apple–Google AI partnership important now?
The alliance brings together two long-standing rivals whose operating systems — iOS and Android — dominate global smartphone markets. While the companies have competed intensely in hardware and software, they have also maintained lucrative partnerships, with Google paying billions to remain the default search engine on Apple devices.
What AI features will be powered by Google Gemini?
Apple’s next-generation Siri and advanced AI tools will tap into Google Gemini’s cloud-based capabilities to:
- enhance conversational intelligence
- improve on-device assistance
- support complex generative AI tasks
At the same time, Apple reiterated that Apple Intelligence — its own in-house system — will continue to power device-level AI on iPhones and iPads, emphasising its commitment to privacy-first architecture.
Does the deal raise antitrust or competition concerns?
The long-running Apple–Google search deal has already faced scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice, which argued it strengthens Google’s search dominance. Although a judge allowed the arrangement to continue, critics suggest the new AI partnership could intensify regulatory attention.
Tesla and xAI founder Elon Musk called the collaboration “an unreasonable concentration of power for Google”.
Apple reportedly explored partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity AI, but eventually aligned with Google Gemini.
Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives described the agreement as a “stepping stone” for Apple to regain momentum heading into 2026 and beyond.
Is Apple catching up in the global AI race?
Over the past year, Apple has been widely viewed as lagging behind rivals such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, following delayed AI launches and the departure of its AI division head.
With competitors rapidly deploying chatbots, assistants, and generative AI tools, Apple’s Gemini partnership signals a decisive move to re-enter the frontline of AI development while continuing to refine Apple Intelligence internally.