Apple is reportedly in discussions with Google to use Gemini, its flagship AI model, as the engine behind a redesigned version of Siri. According to Bloomberg, the companies are in early talks about adapting Gemini to run on Apple’s servers, though no final decision has been made. Apple is said to be weighing multiple approaches, including its own in-house models as well as potential partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic.
The project underscores Apple’s ongoing difficulties in modernizing Siri. When iOS 18 launched earlier this year, Apple rolled out its Apple Intelligence suite of AI-powered tools but delayed a major Siri overhaul that was supposed to integrate those features directly into the voice assistant. The update—meant to give Siri the ability to use personal data and take complex actions in apps—was pushed back to 2026.
Bloomberg reports that Apple is developing two versions of the new Siri: one powered internally (codenamed Linwood) and another built on external technology (codenamed Glenwood). The fact that Apple is even considering outsourcing such a central feature is notable. For decades, the company has prided itself on tightly controlling core technologies. Handing over part of Siri’s intelligence to a competitor like Google would mark a significant departure from that strategy.
The delay has caused ripple effects inside Apple, reportedly leading to reshuffling of AI teams and mounting pressure to match competitors. Google’s Gemini, announced in 2023 and now integrated into Pixel phones and Google services, already offers many of the contextual and app-level capabilities Apple promised for Siri. Running a tailored version of Gemini within Apple’s Private Cloud Compute system could give the company a way to boost Siri’s usefulness while maintaining its security and privacy pitch.
Whether Apple ultimately relies on Google—or sticks to its own AI models—remains to be seen. But the talks highlight a broader reality: Apple has fallen behind in the generative AI race. Where OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic are shipping frequent updates to their assistants, Siri remains largely unchanged. The eventual relaunch, expected in 2026, may determine whether Apple can catch up or if it cedes even more ground in the AI-driven future of personal devices.
