Apple has officially confirmed its decision to collaborate with Google, a long-standing partner, to integrate AI capabilities into its products, including Siri.
In a joint statement, both Apple and Google stated, “Following a thorough assessment, we concluded that Google’s technology offers the most robust basis for Apple Foundation Models, and we anticipate the groundbreaking new user experiences it will enable.”
This collaboration validates earlier reports concerning a Google deal. While the financial specifics remain undisclosed by either company, prior accounts suggest Apple might be compensating Google approximately$1 billion for its AI technology. This agreement follows Apple’s period of evaluating competing technologies from companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
This multi-year alliance will see Apple leveraging Google’s Gemini models and cloud infrastructure for its upcoming foundational models. According to an informed source, the agreement is not exclusive. Traditionally, Apple has emphasized vertical integration, developing its own hardware and software.
The company behind the iPhone has encountered considerable public criticism regarding its AI endeavors, especially as its assistant, Siri, has fallen behind rivals. Nonetheless, Apple has been discreetly developing robust foundational models. In 2024, it launched the initial iterations of Apple Intelligence, integrating AI into core OS features such as photo search and notification summaries. Apple has also prioritized privacy in its AI deployment, with much of the processing occurring on-device or within stringent infrastructural controls. Apple affirms its commitment to upholding these privacy standards throughout its collaboration with Google.
This approach has led to an AI implementation that is often subtle, at times unnoticeable, and occasionally met with user dissatisfaction, lacking the impactful “wow factor” seen in products like ChatGPT or Gemini. Furthermore, it has not yet delivered the comprehensive Siri revamp many users anticipate.
Apple has postponed the introduction of its “more personalized Siri” voice assistant on multiple occasions; however, a spokesperson informed TechCrunch that an update is slated for release this year. Earlier reports suggested the revamped Siri would debut in the spring.
The collaboration between Apple and Google occurs amidst several antitrust lawsuits against the search and ad-tech behemoth, one of which highlighted its ties with Apple. In August 2024, a federal judge determined that Google unlawfully preserved its monopoly in online search by compensating companies such as Apple to establish its search engine as the default option on their devices and web browsers. From 2021 to 2022, Google reportedly paid Apple around $38 billion to ensure these default search positions.
In December 2025, Judge Amit Mehta finalized his remedies for the case, which prohibit Google from forming exclusive, default agreements similar to its arrangement with Apple, “unless the agreement concludes within one year of its inception.”