Apple is in early discussions with Google around using a model based on Google’s Gemini to power a revamped version of its Siri voice assistant, Bloomberg reported, in the latest twist in the company’s efforts to catch up in the AI race.
The iPhone maker recently approached Google to explore building a custom AI model that would serve as the foundation for a new version of Siri for launch next year, the report said, and Google has reportedly begun training a model that would run on Apple’s servers.
The company has not yet made a decision on whether to use a partner’s technology or its own internal software to power Siri, and if an external partner is used, which company that might be, the report said.
External AI
Apple has also held talks with Anthropic and initially preferred the start-up, but financial terms demanded by Anthropic led it to broaden its scope and begin talking to Google, Bloomberg said.
The company has also held talks with OpenAI, according to reports.
Bloomberg said the Siri negotiations are separate from existing deals under which OpenAI’s ChatGPT currently serves as a Siri fallback for certain tasks, and similar integration plans for Gemini that Apple and Google have already disclosed.
Google currently powers most of the AI features of Samsung Android smartphones.
Apple announced a range of AI offerings in 2024, but has delivered only a few of them.
Its promised Siri upgrade, initially planned for launch this spring, was delayed by a year due to engineering challenges.
In March Apple reportedly reorganised its Siri revamp efforts, handing development to Vision Pro developer Mike Rockwell and software chief Craig Federighi while sidelining AI head John Giannandrea.
The new Siri team have been meeting with Google and others to discuss potential collaborations, while also developing an internal version of a Siri revamp using Apple’s own technology.
Staff turmoil
The use of an external Gemini system running on Apple’s servers would mean the AI model would not be running on-device, as many of the iPhone’s current AI features do.
Apple’s chief AI architect Ruoming Pang left the company in July to join Meta Platforms, reportedly lured by a $200m package and a senior role in Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, and was followed by several colleagues.
Many who remain at Apple’s AI unit are interviewing for jobs elsewhere, either due to a potential shift to third-party technology or because of multimillion-dollar job offers, Bloomberg’s report said.
With iOS 26, Apple rolled out an OpenAI option for image generation, and cancelled a publicly announced AI-based coding system in favour of offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.