Apple Adopts Google's AI Model to Power Siri, Elevating Virtual Assistant Capabilities

Apple is finalizing a deal to use Google's powerful Gemini AI model to upgrade Siri, paying around $1 billion annually for access to the technology. The move comes as Apple's voice assistant continues to lag behind competitors like Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant in handling complex requests.

According to Bloomberg, the two tech giants are putting the finishing touches on an agreement that would give Apple access to Google's AI model containing 1.2 trillion parameters. This massive scale makes Gemini significantly more sophisticated than Apple's current AI systems.

The deal represents a temporary solution for Apple while the company develops its own advanced AI capabilities. Apple announced in March that major AI improvements to Siri wouldn't arrive until 2026, though the company didn't explain the delay.

**Why this matters for Apple**

Siri has struggled for years to match the capabilities of its rivals. While Amazon and Google have been adding advanced AI features to their assistants, Siri often fails with multi-step requests and doesn't integrate well with third-party apps. Google added its Gemini model to Google Assistant last year, and Amazon rolled out a comprehensive AI-powered Alexa update earlier this year.

The partnership highlights Apple's urgent need to catch up in the AI race. The company that once pioneered voice assistants with Siri's 2011 launch now finds itself playing defense against more capable competitors.

**What the deal includes**

This agreement is separate from earlier discussions about directly integrating Gemini into Siri as a chatbot feature. The current deal also won't bring Google's AI-powered search capabilities to Apple's operating systems, keeping the partnership focused specifically on improving Siri's underlying intelligence.

The 1.2 trillion parameter count is a key measure of an AI model's complexity and capability. More parameters generally mean the system can understand context better, handle nuanced requests, and provide more accurate responses.

For Google, the billion-dollar annual payment provides a substantial revenue stream while extending its AI technology's reach into Apple's ecosystem. For Apple, it buys time to develop competitive AI systems without falling further behind in a critical technology area that increasingly defines user experience across all devices.