Apple has officially announced a partnership with Google, a longstanding collaborator, to power its future artificial intelligence features, including the voice assistant Siri. Both companies released a joint statement confirming the alliance, stating that "After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users." This confirms earlier reports regarding a potential deal between the tech giants.

While neither Apple nor Google have publicly disclosed the financial terms of the agreement, previous reports suggest that Apple could be paying Google approximately $1 billion for access to its advanced AI technology. This multi-year collaboration will see Apple leveraging Google’s Gemini models and cloud infrastructure for its foundational AI models. It has been clarified by a source familiar with the matter that this partnership is not exclusive, indicating Apple may explore other AI collaborations in the future.

The deal comes after Apple's reported evaluation of technology from other competitors such as OpenAI and Anthropic. Apple, traditionally known for its vertical integration and reliance on proprietary hardware and software, has faced public criticism for its AI endeavors, particularly the perceived lag of Siri compared to rival AI assistants. Despite this, Apple has been quietly developing its own powerful foundational models, having released the first versions of Apple Intelligence in 2024. Apple Intelligence integrates AI into existing operating system functions, enhancing features like photo search and notification summarization.

A core tenet of Apple's AI strategy has been a strong focus on user privacy, with much of the processing occurring either directly on-device or within tightly controlled infrastructure. Apple has affirmed its commitment to maintaining these stringent privacy standards throughout its partnership with Google. The company's approach has resulted in a more subtle, sometimes less immediately apparent, form of AI that may lack the 'wow factor' of products like ChatGPT or Gemini. It also hasn't yet delivered the comprehensive overhaul of Siri that many users have anticipated.

Apple has previously delayed the launch of a "more personalized Siri" voice assistant multiple times. However, a spokesperson informed TechCrunch that an upgrade is slated for release this year, with earlier reports indicating an expected launch in the spring.

This significant partnership also unfolds against a backdrop of Google's ongoing antitrust lawsuits. One particular case brought to light Google's long-standing relationship with Apple, focusing on allegations that Google illegally maintained a monopoly in online search by paying companies, including Apple, to establish its search engine as the default on their devices and web browsers. In August 2024, a federal judge ruled against Google on this matter. The subsequent final remedies issued by Judge Amit Mehta in December 2025 included a ban on Google entering into exclusive default agreements of the type it had with Apple, "unless the agreement terminates no more than one year after the date it is entered." Between 2021 and 2022, Google had reportedly paid Apple around $38 billion to secure these default search placements.