Apple Explores AI Integration with Google for Siri Revamp

Apple Inc. is in preliminary discussions with Google to utilize its Gemini AI models as the basis for a revamped Siri voice assistant, indicating a potential shift towards third-party AI technology integration. Sources from Bloomberg report that Google is developing a model capable of operating on Apple's servers. This move comes as Apple aims to catch up in the generative AI sector, where it has been lagging behind competitors. Earlier this year, Apple explored partnerships with Anthropic and OpenAI to assess the potential of using Claude or ChatGPT for Siri. Internally, Apple is developing two versions of Siri: Linwood, based on its own models, and Glenwood, which would incorporate external technology. Delays in Siri's planned upgrades, which aim to enable full voice navigation, have led to a leadership change. AI chief John Giannandrea has been sidelined, with software head Craig Federighi and Vision Pro creator Mike Rockwell now overseeing the project. The upgrade was postponed by a year due to engineering challenges. Apple's AI models team continues to experience turnover, with senior staff leaving for other tech firms. Despite this, Apple recently tested its first trillion-parameter model, a significant advancement from its existing 150-billion-parameter systems, though still behind OpenAI's multi-trillion models. The proposed Google Gemini integration would operate on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers, maintaining privacy and security. Discussions are still exploratory, with no formal commercial agreement reached. The potential shift to third-party AI aligns with Apple's broader strategy of selectively leveraging external models for some consumer features. For instance, iOS 26 offers ChatGPT for image generation, and a previously planned generative AI coding system was replaced by ChatGPT and Claude. Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized the company's urgency in AI, acknowledging that Apple often enters markets later than competitors but aims to deliver superior products. Shares of both Apple and Google rose following Bloomberg's report on the discussions, reflecting investor optimism about potential AI collaboration.