Apple in talks to use Google's Gemini for a new Siri in 2026

Bloomberg reports that Apple is in talks with Google on a roughly $1 billion per year deal to use a customized version of the Gemini model to power a revamped Siri. The price tag alone hints at how central a modern voice assistant has become to the broader platform experience.

Sources indicate the agreement is in its final stretch. If signed, it would build on a long-running arrangement between the two companies: Google already pays Apple billions annually for the right to remain the default search engine in the Safari browser.

The reworked Siri is rumored to arrive in 2026 with a significant upgrade fueled by artificial intelligence. According to leaks, Apple tested solutions from both Anthropic and Google, but ultimately went with Gemini thanks to more favorable terms and the teams’ existing working ties.

Even so, the move is reportedly a stopgap. Apple plans to continue developing its own large language model. Apple Intelligence is said to comprise about 150 billion parameters, while the Gemini version intended for Siri is around 1.2 trillion—nearly eight times larger. Choosing Gemini comes off as a pragmatic bridge while the in-house stack matures.

There are also rumors that Apple is building its own 1-trillion-parameter model, though timing remains undisclosed. Meanwhile, analysts note the company is losing many AI specialists to other tech players—a backdrop that adds context to the interim reliance on a partner.