Apple has struck a multi-year agreement with Google to power its next-generation Siri using Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence models, a move that significantly reshapes the AI landscape and strengthens Alphabet’s position in its intensifying rivalry with OpenAI.
The partnership, announced on Monday, marks a major endorsement of Google’s AI capabilities. While Gemini already underpins several features in Samsung’s Galaxy AI ecosystem, its integration into Siri opens access to Apple’s vast global user base of more than two billion active devices—one of the largest consumer technology platforms in the world.
Google said Apple selected Gemini after an extensive evaluation process, describing the models as the “most capable foundation” for Apple Foundation Models. The company added that Gemini is also expected to support additional Apple Intelligence features in the future. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Apple and Alphabet have reportedly competed with OpenAI for the agreement, making the outcome a notable setback for the ChatGPT maker. Apple had previously introduced ChatGPT integration across its devices in late 2024, enabling Siri to route complex queries to OpenAI’s chatbot. Apple has indicated that this integration will continue, suggesting a multi-model approach rather than an outright replacement.
The announcement has drawn mixed reactions across the tech industry. Tesla CEO Elon Musk publicly criticized the move, arguing that it concentrates too much power in Google’s hands, given its dominance in mobile operating systems and web browsers. Musk, who founded AI startup xAI, has been investing heavily in developing large-scale models to challenge incumbents like Google and OpenAI.
Industry analysts view the deal as a strategic shift. According to Parth Talsania, CEO of Equisights Research, Gemini’s adoption positions Google as the default intelligence layer for Apple devices, while OpenAI’s ChatGPT is increasingly relegated to an optional, advanced-use role.
The agreement also comes at a sensitive moment for Apple, which has faced mounting criticism for lagging behind rivals in generative AI. Delays to Siri’s long-promised overhaul, internal leadership changes, and a muted response to its initial AI feature rollout have raised concerns about Apple’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving sector.
For Google, the tie-up reinforces momentum as it accelerates development across text, image, and video generation to counter OpenAI’s early lead. It also builds on a long-standing commercial relationship between the two companies. Google remains the default search engine on Apple devices—a deal that reportedly generates tens of billions of dollars annually for Apple while driving massive traffic to Google.
As AI becomes increasingly central to consumer technology, Apple’s decision to lean on Google’s Gemini models underscores both the strategic importance of reliable foundation models and the growing consolidation of power among a handful of AI giants.
