Apple software chief Craig Federighi has taken control of Apple's AI teams, and the move to using Google's Gemini tech is a preview of bigger Apple Intelligence changes to come.

Confirmation that Google's Gemini will be used to bolster Apple Intelligence features to help Siri move forward was damning for Apple's internal models team. Now, a new report by The Information tells the story of a floundering AI focus within Apple that's now under the stewardship of a noted AI skeptic.

The report also hints at strained relations between Federighi and the AI models team he now controls. It's said that the software exec took a dig at the team during a recent meeting.

Federighi believed that Apple's AI efforts weren't moving forward quickly enough. Two months later, in December 2025, Federighi was placed in control of Apple's AI teams — including the AI models team.

The report also notes that it was Federighi who was behind the push to use a third-party model instead of one developed in-house. It's Federighi's belief that Apple's own models can't compete with those from Google, hence the deal.

With Apple already having delayed plans for a more conversational Siri, it's Federighi's belief that Google's AI model will allow features to ship more quickly. A revamped Siri is now hoped to be ready for a 2026 release.

Backtracking on privacy

What happens next will be interesting. Apple has long made plenty of noise about Apple Intelligence's focus on privacy. Models run on-device or in Apple's secure servers.

Apple argued that this approach was more private and secure than using traditional cloud-based compute for AI features. Privacy has long been a key differentiator between Apple and its competition.

That could change, however. The report notes that Apple is in discussions with Google about using its cloud infrastructure for AI features.

If the plans go ahead, future Siri features may be powered by Google's AI chips inside its data centers. The move would make sense given the use of Gemini, but Apple is also said to be struggling to build out its own infrastructure due to chip shortages.

Backtracking on plans to use its own Private Compute Cloud would be a bad look for Apple. But it may be a necessary one if the company is to avoid falling further behind the competition.

Catching up won't be an easy task, especially given Federighi's reputation for frugality. Hopes of Apple luring A-list AI engineers have likely been dashed, with Federighi worried about the compensation they would demand.

Further, Federighi is reported as believing that such engineers would require a salary greater than his own. Given the revelation that Federighi is known to question how much his teams spend on snacks, that seems unlikely to happen.

Apple is under increasing pressure to prove that its AI features can compete with those of Google and others. The company is rumored to be working on an AI pin that will rely heavily on Siri upgrades.

The PIN is tipped for a 2027 release, so the clock is ticking on Federighi and his new teams.