Apple brings Google on board: Siri to rely on Gemini in the future

Apple has taken a cautious approach to artificial intelligence so far. While Siri is deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, it is often seen as less capable than competing assistants. It is no coincidence that AI assistants from major smartphone brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo and Motorola already rely on Google’s Gemini. Now, Apple is looking to catch up.

In a joint announcement, Apple and Google confirmed a multi-year strategic partnership. Going forward, Apple’s foundation models will be built on Google’s Gemini technology and cloud infrastructure. The aim is to significantly enhance Apple Intelligence, resulting in a smarter and more personalized version of Siri.

Despite the partnership, Apple is sticking to its commitment to privacy. The company emphasizes that Apple Intelligence will continue to run primarily on-device and via Apple’s own cloud infrastructure. While Google provides the AI technology, Apple retains full control over system integration and user data. This shift marks a significant moment in Apple’s history – it is the first time the company has relied on external technology for such a core part of its ecosystem.

A new balance of power is emerging in the AI market, with Google and Apple clearly positioning themselves against Microsoft and OpenAI. OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is widely seen as the loser in this scenario, as a partnership with Apple had also been considered a possibility. On Reddit, users are cautiously optimistic about the Apple-Google deal. The prevailing sentiment is that things can only improve. After years of underwhelming performance, many are hopeful that Siri is finally receiving the upgrade it needs.