Apple taps Google Gemini to power an updated Siri experience

On 12 January 2026, Apple and Google announced a multi-year collaboration that will be based on the next generation of Apple Foundation Models on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology. The companies said this foundation will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri planned for 2026.

They also emphasized that Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and through Private Cloud Compute to maintain Apple's privacy standards. For developers and learners, the shift matters because assistant behavior increasingly shapes how users discover and use apps.

What happened

In a joint statement published by Google on 12 January 2026, Apple and Google said "the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology."

The statement adds that Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, and includes the line: "After careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google's AI technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models."

Reuters reported on 12 January 2026 that the partnership is intended to power a revamped Siri later in 2026. Reuters also highlighted the potential distribution of any upgrade, citing Apple's installed base of more than two billion active devices.

This deal comes after Apple began rolling out Apple Intelligence in stages. Apple introduced Apple Intelligence on 10 June 2024, describing an approach that flexes between on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute for requests that need larger models.

On 28 October 2024, Apple said the first set of Apple Intelligence features became available via iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1.

On 11 December 2024, Apple released iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 and said ChatGPT was integrated into Siri and Writing Tools, allowing Siri to suggest using ChatGPT for certain requests and provide responses directly.

Why it matters

A stronger Siri changes the default interface to software. Users increasingly start with a request rather than a tap, so assistants become a front door to features, settings, and workflows.

For iOS and macOS developers, the practical takeaway is integration quality. Siri can only take useful actions when apps expose well-defined capabilities through frameworks like App Intents and Shortcuts. Ambiguous flows, hidden side effects, and unclear permissions do not survive assistant-driven usage.

Teams should also plan for behavior drift. If the underlying model changes, summarization, tone, and edge-case handling can shift even when your app does not. That affects testing: you need prompt-based checks alongside UI automation.

Security and privacy remain part of the engineering work. Apple continues to position on-device processing plus Private Cloud Compute as a privacy-forward architecture.

Even so, model output should be treated as untrusted input, especially when it can trigger actions, create content to share, or access personal context.

Key numbers

• 12 January 2026: Apple and Google announced the multi-year Gemini collaboration.
• Later in 2026: Reuters said a revamped Siri is planned for release.
• More than 2 billion active devices: Apple's installed base cited by Reuters.
• iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1: first Apple Intelligence release (28 October 2024).
• iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, macOS Sequoia 15.2: update that integrated ChatGPT into Siri and Writing Tools (11 December 2024).

Context

Apple has been iterating on Siri for years, but generative AI raised the bar for assistants: understand context, summarize content, and complete tasks across apps. Apple introduced Apple Intelligence on 10 June 2024 and tied it to Private Cloud Compute, framing the cloud layer as a way to run larger models without abandoning its privacy narrative.

By December 2024, Apple also demonstrated a hybrid strategy. In announcing iOS 18.2 and related updates on 11 December 2024, Apple said ChatGPT was integrated into Siri and Writing Tools, and that Siri can suggest using ChatGPT for certain requests.

The 12 January 2026 Gemini announcement signals a bigger change than an optional add-on. Apple and Google are positioning Gemini as foundational for the next generation of Apple Foundation Models, which suggests the model layer will be more tightly coupled to the platform's future capabilities.

For builders, that means assistant features will likely arrive as platform updates rather than as a single switch. It also increases the value of building app actions that are composable, safe, and easy for an assistant to call.

What's next

Neither company has published a detailed technical architecture or rollout schedule beyond "later in 2026" for the Siri refresh. As of 17 January 2026, developers should assume changes will come in phases.

Practical steps you can take now:

1. Expose key user workflows through App Intents and Shortcuts, with clear parameters and safe defaults.
2. Add guardrails around assistant-triggered actions: confirmations for sensitive operations, strict validation, and reliable fallbacks.
3. Create a small evaluation suite of real prompts (voice and text) and run it through each OS beta and app release.
4. Update your threat model for assistant entry points, including prompt injection and unintended data disclosure.

How to go deeper

• Explore the Data Science and AI Bootcamp at Code Labs Academy
• Strengthen AI threat modeling in the Code Labs Academy Cyber Security Bootcamp
• Ship assistant-ready features with the Code Labs Academy Web Development Bootcamp