Apple Dumps OpenAI for Google's Gemini to Power Next-Gen Siri

Apple is making a dramatic change to its artificial intelligence strategy, reportedly abandoning its partnership with OpenAI in favor of a new collaboration with Google. According to sources familiar with the matter, Apple will use Google's Gemini models to power a completely revamped version of Siri expected to launch later this year. This move represents a significant shift for the Cupertino-based tech giant as it races to catch up in the competitive AI landscape.

The End of the OpenAI Era

Just months after announcing a partnership that brought ChatGPT integration to Apple Intelligence, that relationship appears to be short-lived. Currently, Siri users can optionally route complex, knowledge-based questions to ChatGPT when the on-device model isn't sufficient. This opt-in approach was designed to maintain Apple's privacy standards while offering more capable AI responses.

However, this fragmented experience is about to change. The new Siri won't require users to choose between different AI models. Instead, Gemini will serve as the foundational intelligence layer for all Siri interactions, creating a more unified and seamless assistant experience.

What This Means for Siri's Intelligence

The core of this partnership focuses on a specific Apple project that has been in development for over a year: a smarter, more personalized Siri that understands personal context. This enhanced version was originally promised as part of Apple Intelligence, but the company delayed its release last March, admitting the project was "taking longer than we thought."

With Gemini as the backbone, this next-generation Siri should be able to:

• Understand and reference previous conversations in the same session
• Access and interpret information from a user's personal data (messages, emails, photos) with proper permissions
• Handle complex, multi-step requests that require deeper reasoning
• Provide more natural, context-aware responses

The partnership is structured as a multi-year agreement, suggesting Google's technology will be deeply integrated into Apple's ecosystem for the foreseeable future.

Privacy Remains the Priority

Despite outsourcing the AI model itself, Apple is maintaining its strict privacy posture. The company emphasizes that Apple Intelligence tasks will continue to run on-device and through its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure whenever possible. This means most personal Siri requests will stay on the user's iPhone or Mac.

When a query requires the power of Gemini, Apple's implementation will likely use Google's cloud-based API while wrapping it in Apple's privacy protections. The exact technical details of how data will be handled during these cloud-based AI requests remain to be seen, but Apple has stated the partnership maintains its "industry-leading privacy standards."

Why Apple Made the Switch

Several factors likely contributed to Apple's decision to go with Gemini over extending its OpenAI relationship:

Model Capabilities: Google has made significant strides with its Gemini models, particularly in multimodal capabilities and reasoning. For Apple, which needs to deliver a truly "smarter" Siri, the choice likely came down to which model could provide the most capable foundation for its Foundation Models.

Negotiating Leverage: By having multiple AI partnerships available, Apple could play OpenAI and Google against each other to secure better terms. This multi-year deal suggests Apple found Google's offer more compelling.

Integration Flexibility: Google may have offered more customization options for Apple to integrate Gemini directly into its operating systems, rather than treating it as a separate tool like the current ChatGPT implementation.

The Competitive Landscape

This move comes as Apple faces increasing pressure from competitors who have already deployed sophisticated AI assistants. Samsung's Galaxy AI features, Google's own Pixel Assistant, and various Android manufacturers have all pushed ahead with AI integration while Apple's Siri overhaul remained delayed.

By partnering with Google, Apple can potentially accelerate its AI timeline rather than waiting for its own models to mature. It's a pragmatic approach that sacrifices some independence for speed and capability.

What Users Can Expect

When the Gemini-powered Siri launches later this year, users should notice:

• More intelligent responses to complex questions
• Better understanding of personal context and user history
• Improved conversational flow
• The same privacy protections for on-device processing
• A single, unified AI experience rather than multiple options

The transition away from OpenAI means ChatGPT integration will disappear from Apple Intelligence. Users who currently rely on the "Ask ChatGPT" feature will need to adjust to the new Gemini-based system.

Looking Ahead

This partnership signals that Apple has accepted it needs external help to compete in AI, at least in the short term. Rather than building everything in-house, the company is taking a more pragmatic approach: use the best available technology, wrap it in Apple's privacy and design principles, and deliver it to users as quickly as possible.

The multi-year nature of the deal suggests this isn't just a stopgap. Apple may be planning to work with Google's AI technology for several years while it continues developing its own models in the background.

For Google, this is a massive win. Getting Gemini into the hands of hundreds of millions of iPhone users represents a huge expansion of its AI reach and a validation of its technology from one of the world's most valuable companies.

The real test will come when this new Siri actually ships. Apple has promised a more capable assistant for years, and users are growing impatient. With Google's Gemini powering the experience, Apple is betting that it can finally deliver the Siri upgrade everyone has been waiting for.