Google’s Gemini powers Apple’s AI features such as Siri

It’s official. Apple has chosen to work with long-time partner Google to power AI capabilities such as Siri.

“After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we are excited about the innovative new experiences this will unlock for our users,” Apple and Google said in a statement.

The partnership confirms previous reports about a deal with Google. Neither Apple nor Google have confirmed the price, but previous reports suggest Apple could be paying Google around $1 billion for access to its AI technology. The deal also comes after Apple spent time testing competitor technologies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.

The multi-year partnership includes Apple using Google’s Gemini model and cloud technology for future Apple base models. The deal is not exclusive, according to people familiar with the matter. Apple has traditionally relied on proprietary hardware and software and focused on vertical integration.

The iPhone maker has faced a fair amount of public criticism for its AI efforts, particularly its assistant Siri, which has lagged behind its competitors. That doesn’t mean Apple isn’t quietly building a strong underlying model. The company released the first version of Apple Intelligence in 2024, adding AI to existing OS features such as photo search and notification summarization. Apple is also focused on privacy in its AI deployments, with much of the processing happening on-device or through tightly controlled infrastructure. Apple says it maintains these privacy standards through its partnership with Google.

The company’s strategy has created subtle, sometimes invisible, and sometimes exasperating forms of AI. It doesn’t have the wow factor of ChatGPT or Gemini. It also falls short of delivering the kind of Siri makeover that many users have been waiting for.

Apple has delayed the rollout of its “more personalized Siri” voice assistant several times, but a spokesperson told TechCrunch that the upgrade is expected later this year. According to previous reports, a completely revamped Siri will be available in the spring.

Apple and Google’s partnership comes as the search and ad tech giants are in the midst of multiple antitrust lawsuits, including one that puts its relationship with Apple at the forefront. In August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google illegally maintained its monopoly over online search by paying companies like Apple to display its search engine as the default on its devices and web browsers. From 2021 to 2022, Google paid Apple approximately $38 billion to secure its default search placement.

In December 2025, Judge Amit Mehta announced final relief in the case, including a ban on entering into exclusive default agreements like the one with Google and Apple “unless the agreement is terminated within one year from the date of execution.”