Apple has announced a long-term collaboration with Google to deploy Gemini models for improving Siri and Apple Intelligence functionalities. In a statement given to CNBC, Apple shared its excitement about utilizing Google’s technology, stating, “After thorough assessment, we concluded that Google’s technology offers the most robust foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we’re eager about the groundbreaking new experiences it will create for our users.”
This partnership will involve Apple embedding Google’s Gemini models into upcoming versions of its Apple Foundation Models. Although exact timelines for the introduction of new Siri and Apple Intelligence functionalities have not been revealed, CNBC indicates that these improvements are anticipated to launch later this year.
During WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled the Apple Intelligence ecosystem, highlighting features such as Writing Tools, Image Playground, and Genmoji, along with an updated iteration of Siri that encompasses personal context, in-app actions, and on-screen awareness. While numerous features have been implemented, the new Siri version experienced delays, with Apple admitting in a statement last May that the deployment was taking more time than expected.
This collaboration follows extensive coverage by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who mentioned that Apple plans to allocate around $1 billion each year for access to Google’s Gemini models. The new Siri is expected to be driven by a 1.2 trillion parameter AI model, greatly boosting its functionalities.
Neither Apple nor Google has verified the specific technical or financial aspects of this agreement, but the partnership signifies a major advancement in the development of Siri and Apple’s AI-enabled features.