Apple has confirmed a multi-year partnership with Google that will see Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology used to help power future Apple Foundation Models, including a more personalized version of Siri expected later this year.

In a joint statement, the companies said Apple selected Google after evaluating multiple options, concluding that Google’s AI technology provides “the most capable foundation” for Apple’s next generation of AI features. Apple emphasized that the partnership will maintain its existing privacy standards, with Apple Intelligence continuing to run on-device and through its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.

The announcement confirms earlier reporting that Apple was in talks with Google to support its AI roadmap. While financial terms were not disclosed, previous reports have suggested Apple could be paying Google around $1 billion for access to its AI technology.

Apple reportedly evaluated AI technologies from competitors including OpenAI and Anthropic before selecting Google. The decision marks a notable moment for Apple, which has traditionally emphasized tight integration between its hardware and software.

Under the agreement, Apple will base future Apple Foundation Models on Google’s Gemini models, using Google’s cloud infrastructure as part of the stack.

Apple has faced increasing criticism for lagging behind competitors in consumer-facing AI, particularly around Siri, which many users feel has failed to keep pace with assistants powered by large language models.

That criticism comes despite Apple quietly rolling out Apple Intelligence starting in 2024, adding AI-powered features such as photo search, notification summaries, and system-level assistance across its operating systems.

Apple has consistently framed its AI strategy around privacy, keeping much of its processing on-device or within tightly controlled infrastructure. The company said those standards will remain in place throughout its partnership with Google.

Still, Apple’s approach has produced a form of AI that is often subtle and sometimes invisible—lacking the immediate “wow factor” of tools like ChatGPT or Gemini, and falling short of the sweeping Siri overhaul many users have been expecting.

Apple has delayed its long-promised more personalized Siri multiple times. However, a company spokesperson told TechCrunch that the upgrade is now expected to arrive later this year, with earlier reports pointing to a spring launch window.

The Google partnership appears positioned to accelerate that effort, providing Apple with access to more advanced model capabilities while allowing it to retain control over user experience and data handling.

The partnership also lands amid significant antitrust pressure on Google, including multiple lawsuits examining its dominance in search and advertising.

In August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google had illegally maintained a monopoly in online search by paying companies like Apple to make Google the default search engine on devices and browsers. Between 2021 and 2022, Google reportedly paid Apple about $38 billion for default search placement.

In December 2025, Judge Amit Mehta issued final remedies in the case, restricting Google from entering into exclusive default agreements with partners unless those agreements can be terminated within one year.

According to a source familiar with the AI partnership, the Apple–Google deal is not exclusive, a detail that may prove significant given the current regulatory environment.

Q: Is Apple replacing its own AI models with Google’s Gemini?
A: No. Apple says its next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology, while Apple Intelligence continues to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute.

Q: Will Apple still focus on privacy with Google involved?
A: Apple says yes. The company states that its industry-leading privacy standards will remain intact, with processing handled on-device or through Apple-controlled infrastructure.

Q: Is the Apple–Google AI partnership exclusive?
A: No. A source familiar with the deal says the agreement is non-exclusive, meaning Apple could still work with other AI providers.

Q: When will users see changes to Siri?
A: Apple says a more personalized Siri is coming later this year, following several delays.

By turning to Google for AI infrastructure, Apple is acknowledging a practical constraint of the current AI landscape: even companies known for tightly controlling their own platforms are increasingly reliant on external model innovation to stay competitive.

Rather than abandoning its principles, Apple appears to be selectively outsourcing capability while retaining control—using Google’s AI as a foundation while keeping user experience, privacy, and system integration firmly in-house. This hybrid approach may allow Apple to move faster without fully surrendering its identity or data stewardship.

At the same time, the partnership highlights how AI infrastructure has become strategically inseparable from regulatory risk. By keeping the deal non-exclusive and emphasizing privacy, Apple and Google are navigating not just technical challenges, but legal and public trust constraints as well.

For users, the test will be whether this collaboration finally delivers a Siri that feels meaningfully more capable—without compromising the values Apple has staked its AI future on.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.