Apple and Google have confirmed that Google Gemini will power the next-generation version of Siri that is expected to launch later this year.
Bloomberg reported in the fall that Apple was planning to pay around $1 billion per year to incorporate Gemini into the updated version of Siri, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter.
In a statement by both companies Monday, a multi-year collaboration was announced:
Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.
Apple will deploy not one but multiple Gemini models. It will use them to power a new version of Siri set to roll out later this year.
According to Apple, the upgraded assistant provides more personalized responses and can perform multi-step tasks spanning multiple apps.
Apple said Monday that under the new agreement, its Apple Intelligence AI features will continue to run either on users’ devices or in a secure cloud, to protect users’ personal data.
After careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google’s Al technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple users. Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards.
The move could help Apple accelerate the release of its more advanced, AI-powered version of its Siri voice assistant, which was delayed after first being teased at the company’s 2024 Worldwide Development Conference.
The delay has contributed to concerns that Apple is behind fellow tech giants in AI development.
