Apple is partnering with Google to underpin the next phase of its artificial intelligence strategy, a move that will play a central role in a long-anticipated overhaul of Siri expected later this year.
The multiyear agreement will see Apple rely on Google’s Gemini models and cloud infrastructure as the foundation for future Apple Foundation Models, according to a joint statement. Despite the collaboration, both companies emphasised that the models will continue to run on Apple devices and within Apple’s private cloud compute environment.
“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,” Apple said in the statement. Apple declined to disclose financial terms, while Google referred questions back to the joint announcement.
Talks months in the making
The partnership follows reports from Bloomberg last year that Apple was in early discussions with Google about using a customised Gemini model to power a revamped version of Siri. Subsequent reporting suggested Apple could be paying roughly $1 billion annually for access to Google’s AI technology, though neither company has confirmed that figure.
The deal highlights Google’s strengthening position in the AI race and a renewed sense of confidence in its strategy as it competes with OpenAI. In 2025, Google posted its strongest performance since 2009 and briefly surpassed Apple in market capitalisation for the first time in several years.
A partnership layered on top of an old one
Apple and Google already have a deep commercial relationship. Google pays Apple billions of dollars annually to remain the default search engine on iPhones, an arrangement that has been subject to regulatory scrutiny.
That partnership came under pressure after a U.S. court ruled that Google holds an illegal monopoly in internet search, though a September decision avoided the most severe outcome and allowed Google to continue major commercial deals, including those with Apple.
News of the AI partnership initially lifted Google’s share price, pushing its market value briefly above $4 trillion, before gains moderated.
Pressure on Apple to deliver
The agreement comes as Apple faces growing pressure to prove its relevance in an AI market dominated by heavy spending from rivals such as Amazon, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft. While competitors have poured billions into AI tools and infrastructure, Apple has taken a more cautious approach, focusing on on-device processing and privacy.
That restraint has put the spotlight on Siri. Apple had originally teased a major AI-driven upgrade to the assistant, only to delay its release until 2026. At the time, the company acknowledged the setback, saying it needed more time than expected to deliver the promised features.
Currently, Apple collaborates with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into Siri and Apple Intelligence, enabling complex queries that require broader world knowledge. Apple told CNBC that the new Google partnership does not alter its existing agreement with OpenAI, although it remains unclear how the roles of Gemini and ChatGPT will coexist in the long term. OpenAI did not immediately comment.
Google’s momentum continues
For Google, the deal reinforces its recent momentum in AI. The company introduced its Gemini 3 model late last year and has seen rapid growth in its cloud business. In October, Google CEO Sundar Pichai said the company’s cloud division had signed more billion-dollar deals through the third quarter of 2025 than in the previous two years combined.
As Apple prepares to roll out its next wave of AI features, the partnership signals a notable shift: rather than building everything in-house, the iPhone maker is now willing to leverage a longtime rival’s technology to accelerate its push into the AI era.
