Apple Inc. is reportedly finalizing a substantial agreement with Google that would involve the iPhone manufacturer paying approximately $1 billion annually for a bespoke version of Google's Gemini artificial intelligence model. This integration is intended to power a comprehensive overhaul of Apple's voice assistant, Siri, according to a recent report by Bloomberg. The impending deal highlights a significant cross-industry collaboration at the forefront of AI development and deployment.
This strategic decision represents a notable departure for Apple, a company long known for its commitment to developing and utilizing proprietary technology across its product ecosystem. The adoption of Google's Gemini model is positioned as a temporary solution, designed to provide advanced AI capabilities for a range of new Siri features while Apple continues to advance its own artificial intelligence infrastructure to a commensurate level of power and complexity. The customized AI model from Google is specified to incorporate 1.2 trillion parameters, a measure directly correlating to the software's ability to process data and generate sophisticated responses. For context, Apple's existing cloud-based Apple Intelligence currently operates with approximately 150 billion parameters, indicating that the Google model would introduce an eight-fold increase in complexity and potential capability for Siri.
Earlier in the year, Apple engaged in an evaluation process, considering alternative AI models from other leading developers in the field, including OpenAI and Anthropic. Following extensive testing and assessment of offerings from all three technology firms, Apple ultimately decided to move forward with Google for the ambitious Siri enhancement project, as detailed in the Bloomberg report. This selection underscores Google's competitive position in the rapidly evolving landscape of large language models.
The launch of the reimagined Siri, powered by the Google Gemini model, is provisionally slated for release in the spring of the upcoming year. However, given that the launch is still several months away, plans for the overhaul and its specific features are subject to potential adjustments, according to information from Bloomberg's reporting. The final details of the integration and its public rollout will likely be confirmed closer to the anticipated launch window.
