The decision is now confirmed: Apple has selected Google, a long-standing collaborator, to supply the AI capabilities for features such as Siri. In a joint statement, the companies explained, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for AppleFoundation Models and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.” This alliance validates earlier indications of an agreement between the two firms.

While neither Apple nor Google has disclosed the financial terms, prior reports suggest Apple may be paying Google approximately $1 billion for access to its AI technology. This arrangement follows a period where Apple evaluated competing technologies from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic.

The multi-year partnership will see Apple utilizing Google’s Gemini models and cloud infrastructure to develop its future foundational AI models. According to a source familiar with the agreement, this deal is not exclusive.

Apple has a strong tradition of vertical integration, developing its own hardware and software. Recently, the iPhone maker has faced public criticism as its AI initiatives, particularly the Siri assistant, appeared to fall behind rival offerings. This is not to say Apple has been inactive; the company introduced the first iterations of Apple Intelligence in 2024, integrating AI into existing operating system functions like photo search and notification summarization.

Privacy has been a cornerstone of Apple’s AI approach, with most processing occurring directly on devices or through secure, controlled infrastructure. The company has stated it will uphold these privacy standards throughout its collaboration with Google.

This strategy has resulted in a form of AI that is often subtle, sometimes unnoticed, and occasionally met with frustration—lacking the immediate flash of tools like ChatGPT or Gemini. It also does not yet constitute the comprehensive Siri upgrade many users have anticipated. Earlier reports suggest a revamped Siri is slated for release in the spring.

Apple’s new partnership with Google unfolds as the search and advertising giant navigates several antitrust lawsuits, one of which directly involves its relationship with Apple. In August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google maintained an illegal monopoly in online search by compensating companies, including Apple, to set its search engine as the default on devices and browsers. Between 2021 and 2022, Google paid Apple roughly $38 billion for these default placements.

In December 2025, Judge Amit Mehta issued final remedies in the case, prohibiting Google from entering into exclusive default agreements like its past deal with Apple “unless the agreement terminates no more than one year after the date it is entered.”