Search giant Google has publicly confirmed that Apple's updated Siri, complete with its long-promised personalized responses, will finally be coming out at some point in 2026.
In January, Apple confirmed that it had entered into a multi-year deal with Google to use the Gemini model to create Apple's Foundation Models. Google now says that the fruits of Apple's AI labor will be on display before the end of 2026.
Speaking at the Google Cloud Next 26 opening keynote, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian talked about Apple as a key customer of the company. Standing in front of the Apple Logo in the auditorium, he enthused about how Apple was using its technology.
"Earlier this year, we announced a monumental partnership with one of the most iconic brands that will bring the power of our technology to users everywhere around the world," he said. "We're collaborating with Apple as their preferred cloud provider to develop the next generation of Apple Foundation Models based on Gemini technology."
Kurian went on to say the models will power future Apple Intelligence features, as well as "more personalized Siri coming later this year."
While the CEO's statement is more proclaiming how Google Cloud's working with Apple than providing new information, it does at least confirm that Apple's new Siri will finally arrivesometime in 2026.
The most probable venue for this launch will be WWDC 2026 in June. As the main launching point for Apple's future operating system updates, it would be a natural place for the new version to be unveiled.
Expensive, but context-aware
Siri was presented in its new form in 2024, via a WWDC keynote that showed it capable of dealing with more than just voice queries. It was capable of things like on-screen awareness, App Intent support, and responding with personal context based on information in apps.
While Apple Intelligence did roll out slowly, Siri didn't. Eventually, Apple had to admit in March 2025 that making its vision of a new Siri was taking longer than expected.
The type of question Apple once promised Siri will be able to answer with Apple Intelligence. Image source: Apple
The deal, believed to cost Apple in the region of $1 billion per year, gives Apple a considerable leg up the AI ladder, if a costly one.
The actual terms of the deal are undisclosed, and it certainly won't allow Google to get its hands on Apple's user data. For privacy's sake, it will be handled on Apple-controlled servers, using its usual high levels of security.
How Apple uses the models could be interesting. In March, Apple was reportedly able to distill knowledge and skills from the larger Gemini model to a smaller Apple-controlled version, which could potentially run on a device like an iPhone.
