While Siri will soon use Google Gemini tech for its Apple Intelligence features, Google itself has confirmed that it will operate under Private Cloud Compute and Apple's rules.
The news that Apple and Google have signed a deal for the latter's Gemini AI technology to be used in Apple Intelligence, has been a long time coming. But it's also being immediately misreported as Apple ceding to Google Gemini instead of continuing with its own Siri.
Initial reports did quote Apple as saying that Gemini would be used with its Apple Foundation Models. However, Google has now publicly confirmed that, and also gone further.
Joint Statement: Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a
— News from Google (@NewsFromGoogle) January 12, 2026
In the full statement on Twitter, Google goes on to say that "Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple's industry-leading privacy standards."
This is just as it is now with how Siri can pass requests on to ChatGPT without that OpenAI service getting to train on user data.
Portions of Google's statement are word for word the same as the short segments released of Apple's own forthcoming announcement. However, Google does further expressly say that Gemini will be used to "help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year."
As long ago as February 2025, there were references found in iOS code to do with Google Gemini. Separately it's also been reported before that Apple may pay Google $1 billion per year for the use of Gemini.
That figure has not been confirmed, nor has it yet been announced how Google Gemini will integrate with iOS 26.
What has repeatedly been said by Apple is that Siri is on track for a revamp in 2026, and this would appear to be part of that.
Why the deal is happening now
One reason for the announcement coming out now is that Apple is getting ahead of its promised Spring launch of a revamped Siri. Another is that the deal can now be done without jeopardizing another deal.
For many years, Google has paid Apple to make it the default search engine on iPhones. In 2025, it was revealed just how lucrative that deal was — as Google was then reported to be paying up to $20 billion annually.
Google's Gemini is already an app but will become part of iOS
That figure came to light, though, because the Department of Justice was investigating Google over alleged antitrust and anticompetition laws. It was possible that the courts would require that this exclusivity deal be scrapped.
Consequently we saw Apple's Eddy Cue on the witness stand downplaying the importance of the deal. He said that the number of searches had gone down for the first time, and that Apple was looking at AI-based alternatives.
Ultimately, Google and Apple got to keep their deal. The immediate result was that Apple shares surged, but nothing more seemed to happen.
Perhaps if that court ruling had come before WWDC 2026, Apple and Google might have made this announcement then. But as it is, they can make the announcement without fear of it giving the DOJ grounds to again investigate exclusivity.
Yet regardless of the timing of the new announcement, there remain questions about its implementation. That's both in terms of what users will see, and in terms of how much Apple is paying for Google Gemini.
If it's correct that Apple will pay $1 billion annually, that's a high figure — but not as high as the $20 billion we know Google is paying Apple for search.
