📝 Abhijeet's Take: This is HUGE. Apple finally admitted what we all knew - Siri is terrible. I've been an iPhone user since 2015, and Siri has been a joke compared to Google Assistant. This partnership is Apple swallowing its pride and doing what's best for users. Respect.
The Deal: $1 Billion Per Year
On January 12, 2026, Apple and Google officially announced a multi-year partnership that will fundamentally change how Siri works.
Deal Highlights:
- Cost: ~$1 billion annually (reported)
- Duration: Multi-year agreement
- Launch: Spring 2026 (iOS 18.4)
- Scope: Gemini powers Apple Foundation Models
- Privacy: Runs on Apple's Private Cloud Compute
Why Did Apple Choose Google Over OpenAI?
Apple conducted a "careful evaluation" of AI providers and concluded that Gemini offers the most capable foundation for its AI ambitions.
Gemini Won Because:
- Multimodal Capabilities: Text, image, video, audio understanding
- Scale: Google's infrastructure can handle billions of queries
- Real-time Data: Access to Google's search index
- Proven Track Record: Already powering Google Assistant
- Cost-Effective: $1B/year vs building from scratch
💭 My Take: ChatGPT is great for creative tasks, but Gemini is better for real-world assistant tasks. Apple made the right call. Plus, Google's search integration is unbeatable.
What's New in Gemini-Powered Siri?
1. Multi-Step Task Handling
Current Siri can barely handle single commands. The new Siri will execute complex, multi-step workflows.
Example:
You: "Plan a weekend trip to Goa"
New Siri:
- Searches flights
- Finds hotels
- Suggests restaurants
- Creates itinerary
- Adds to Calendar
- Sends to family group chat
All in one command.
2. On-Screen Awareness
Siri will finally understand what's on your screen and act on it.
- Reading an email? "Add this to my calendar"
- Viewing a photo? "Send this to Mom"
- Browsing a product? "Compare prices"
3. Conversational Memory
Siri will remember context from previous conversations.
Example:
You: "What's the weather in Mumbai?"
Siri: "28°C, partly cloudy"
You: "What about tomorrow?"
Siri: "In Mumbai, 30°C with rain expected"
Current Siri would ask "Where?" again. 🤦
4. World Knowledge Answers
Instead of just showing web links, Siri will synthesize information and give direct answers.
Before (Current Siri):
You: "Who won the 2024 IPL?"
Siri: "Here's what I found on the web..." (shows links)
After (Gemini Siri):
You: "Who won the 2024 IPL?"
Siri: "Kolkata Knight Riders won IPL 2024, defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 8 wickets in the final. Shreyas Iyer was named Player of the Tournament."
5. Better App Integration
Siri will extract and use information from apps like Mail, Messages, Calendar, Photos.
Privacy: How Apple Maintains Control
Despite using Google's AI, Apple maintains its privacy-first approach:
Privacy Safeguards:
- Private Cloud Compute: Gemini runs on Apple's servers, not Google's
- Apple as Gatekeeper: Apple decides which requests go to Gemini
- Data Isolation: User data never touches Google's infrastructure
- On-Device Processing: Simple tasks still run locally
- Privacy Buffer: Additional layer between user and Gemini
📝 Abhijeet's Note: This is the best of both worlds. Google's AI power + Apple's privacy infrastructure. I'm actually impressed by how they structured this.
What About ChatGPT?
The deal is non-exclusive. Apple will continue using OpenAI's ChatGPT for specific use cases:
Division of Labor:
- Gemini: Foundation for Siri, real-world tasks, search-based queries
- ChatGPT: Complex creative tasks, coding, writing
- Apple Models: On-device tasks, privacy-critical operations
Timeline: When Can You Use It?
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| Jan 12, 2026 | Partnership announced |
| Spring 2026 | New Siri launches (iOS 18.4) |
| Q3 2026 | Full Gemini integration across Apple ecosystem |
| 2027+ | Advanced features, multi-year roadmap |
Market Impact
Stock Market Reaction:
- Google (Alphabet): +3.2% on announcement day
- Apple: +1.8% (positive investor sentiment)
- OpenAI: Reportedly concerned about losing ground
- Microsoft: -0.5% (OpenAI's main backer)
What This Means for Users
🎯 Benefits:
- ✅ Siri finally becomes useful
- ✅ Better than Google Assistant (Apple's UX + Google's AI)
- ✅ Privacy maintained
- ✅ Free for all iPhone users
- ✅ Works across all Apple devices
💭 Final Thoughts: I've been waiting for this since 2015. Siri has been embarrassingly bad for a $3 trillion company. This partnership is Apple admitting defeat and choosing users over ego. Spring 2026 can't come soon enough.
Key Takeaways
🎯 Summary
- ✅ Apple paying Google ~$1B/year for Gemini AI
- ✅ New Siri launches Spring 2026 (iOS 18.4)
- ✅ Multi-step tasks, on-screen awareness, conversational memory
- ✅ Privacy maintained via Apple's Private Cloud Compute
- ✅ Non-exclusive deal, ChatGPT integration continues
- ✅ Biggest Siri upgrade in history