Apple bets $1 billion on Google’s Gemini to save Siri: What’s happening

Apple Inc. is nearing an agreement with Google to use its Gemini artificial intelligence model to power the next generation of Siri, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, 6 November 2025. The deal, estimated at around $1 billion per year, is expected to give Apple access to Google’s 1.2 trillion-parameter AI system — one of the most powerful models currently available.

According to people familiar with the matter, the agreement will allow Apple to rely on Google’s Gemini technology as it prepares a major overhaul of Siri for next year. The new Siri, reportedly due in spring 2026 with iOS 26.4, is being developed under the internal codename “Linwood”.

The collaboration, known internally at Apple as “Project Glenwood”, is being led by Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell and software engineering chief Craig Federighi. Under the plan, Google’s AI will manage Siri’s summariser and planner functions — critical components that help the assistant interpret information and execute complex tasks.

Apple tested several external models, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude, before selecting Google’s Gemini earlier this year. The tech giant views the move as a temporary measure until its own AI models reach comparable capability. Apple is developing a 1 trillion-parameter in-house model for future consumer use.

To maintain privacy, Google’s model will operate on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers, keeping user data separate from Google’s systems. Some Siri features will continue using Apple’s proprietary models.

While Apple and Google have collaborated before — most notably in making Google the default search engine for Safari — this AI partnership will be less visible to users. Google will function as a behind-the-scenes technology supplier rather than a co-branded partner.

This development underscores Apple’s acknowledgment that it has lagged behind competitors in the AI race. The deal signals a strategic effort to quickly enhance Siri’s intelligence while continuing long-term investment in Apple’s internal AI capabilities.

In regions like China, where Google products are restricted, Apple plans to rely on its in-house models and local partnerships such as Baidu and Alibaba for AI integration.

Bloomberg reported that while the Gemini-powered Siri could debut next year, the partnership terms may still evolve before final implementation. Both companies have declined to comment publicly on the agreement.