Apple has announced a major upgrade to its Siri voice assistant, partnering with Google’s Gemini AI models to power next-generation on-device and cloud-based intelligence. The move is drawing strong reactions from Elon Musk, who criticized the deal as an “unreasonable concentration of power for Google.”
The collaboration allows Apple to integrate a 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini AI model into its private cloud infrastructure. Simple tasks will be handled on devices, while more complex operations are processed securely in Apple’s servers. The update is expected to roll out with iOS 26.4.
Apple’s Siri will gain in-app actions, personal context awareness, and on-screen understanding, effectively making the assistant more capable and responsive. Users will interact with an upgraded Siri interface, while the backend technology, powered by Google, remains invisible.
Musk, CEO of Tesla and xAI, expressed displeasure on social media, framing the deal as giving Google too much influence. However, industry analysts note that Google only earns about $1 billion per year from licensing Gemini to Apple, while Apple significantly strengthens Siri’s network effect.
The strategic partnership allows Apple to enhance its AI capabilities without waiting to fully develop its own models. Users will see improvements in Siri’s performance, while the underlying Gemini technology quietly handles complex tasks behind the scenes.
Experts say Apple benefits most from the deal. For example, when a user asks Siri to book a restaurant, the enhanced AI performs the task seamlessly. The user experiences Siri’s improved abilities without noticing Google’s role.
This arrangement highlights Apple’s long-term AI strategy, using Google’s Gemini as a temporary boost while Apple develops its in-house AI infrastructure. It positions Siri as a stronger competitor against rivals like ChatGPT and Musk’s xAI.
Despite Musk’s criticism, analysts predict that Apple’s move will be widely appreciated by consumers, reinforcing the value of Siri within the Apple ecosystem and further cementing the company’s network advantage in AI-powered voice assistants.
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