Prime Highlights
- Apple is close to finalising a $1 billion-per-year agreement with Google to integrate its advanced Gemini AI model into Siri for a major upgrade.
- The collaboration, part of Apple’s internal “Glenwood” project, is led by Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell and software chief Craig Federighi.
Key Facts
- The deal gives Apple access to Google’s 1.2 trillion-parameter Gemini model, a significant leap from Apple’s current 150 billion-parameter system.
- The new Siri features are expected to launch with iOS 26.4 next spring, with Gemini handling summarizer and planner functions via Apple’s secure Private Cloud Compute servers.
Background
Apple Inc. is close to finalising a deal worth nearly $1 billion per year with Alphabet Inc.’s Google to use its advanced Gemini artificial intelligence model for a major Siri upgrade.
The agreement would give Apple access to Google’s 1.2 trillion-parameter AI model, marking a major leap from the company’s existing 150 billion-parameter system. The collaboration aims to strengthen Siri’s intelligence and bring new features expected to roll out next spring with iOS 26.4.
After evaluating AI models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, Apple reportedly chose Gemini as an interim solution while it continues to build its own high-performance models. The upgrade effort, known internally as Glenwood, is being led by Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell and software chief Craig Federighi.
Under the plan, Gemini will handle Siri’s summarizer and planner functions, which help process complex tasks. However, the AI will run on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers, ensuring that user data remains secure and isolated from Google’s infrastructure.
The partnership will remain behind the scenes, unlike the companies’ Safari search engine deal. Shares of both Apple and Alphabet rose after the news. Apple gained nearly 1%, while Alphabet climbed 3.2%.
Apple is also developing its own 1 trillion parameter cloud-based model, aiming to match Gemini’s quality in the future. The company will use Gemini for now to close its AI gap and stay competitive in the fast-changing generative AI market.
