Apple is in talks with Google to create a custom Gemini AI for the updated Siri assistant

Apple is in talks with Google about possibly using its Gemini artificial intelligence model to upgrade its Siri voice assistant. According to Bloomberg, Apple has approached Google with a proposal to create a customized AI model that could run on Apple's server infrastructure as early as next year.

These talks are part of Apple's broader strategy to address a significant lag in generative AI. The company has also previously considered partnerships with Anthropic and OpenAI, but a final decision on a partner has not yet been made. Apple is testing two versions of the new Siri: one based on its own models (Project Linwood), the other on third-party technologies (Project Glenwood).

The Siri update, which was supposed to be released in the spring of 2025, was postponed due to technical difficulties. After that, Apple changed the project management, which is now actively exploring the possibility of involving external models to implement Siri functions, including those that involve full control of devices with just voice.

Despite Apple and Google's competition in mobile operating systems, the companies already have a partnership in search services. Google pays billions of dollars each year to remain the default search engine on Apple devices. However, that deal is under antitrust scrutiny by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Negotiations to integrate Gemini into Siri are currently in the early stages, and commercial agreements have not yet been reached.

Despite Apple's significant lag in the development of AI technologies, CEO Tim Cook is optimistic about the future. At an internal team meeting, he said that Apple intends to achieve leadership in AI and is already increasing investments to this end. According to him, the company is not always the first to enter new markets, but in the end it offers "a great product."