Apple to use Gemini for new Siri

Apple Inc. is poised to use Gemini for new Siri, marking a major shift in the company’s AI strategy. Reports indicate Apple may integrate Gemini—developed by Google LLC—to power the next version of its voice assistant, Siri

This article explores what “use Gemini for new Siri” really entails: the timing, what changes may come, how it fits into Apple’s broader AI ambitions, and what users should watch out for.

What’s the Timeline & Context

• Apple is reportedly in early discussions with Google to build a custom Gemini-based model that can run on Apple’s own infrastructure for Siri.
• The rollout of the revamped Siri is speculated for March 2026.
• Apple has already integrated third-party AI models (for example, ChatGPT) into its “Apple Intelligence” suite, and CEO Tim Cook recently said Apple intends to include more models in future.

Why Apple Wants to “Use Gemini for New Siri”

1. Catch up in AI capabilities: Siri has lagged behind competitors in multi-step tasks, contextual understanding and generative features.
2. Leverage best-in-class model: Gemini is viewed as one of the top generative AI models currently, so using it could give Apple a faster path to improved assistant performance.
3. Hybrid model strategy: Apple might combine its in-house AI work with externally sourced models like Gemini, enabling flexibility.
4. Privacy & infrastructure control: Reports suggest Apple wants to host the model on its “Private Cloud Compute” infrastructure—meaning Apple retains control of data flow rather than outsourcing entirely.

What Users Can Expect: Feature Upgrades

If Apple opts to use Gemini for new Siri, users may see:

• Better contextual understanding: Siri may more effectively interpret what you’re doing, what device you’re on, and what you want, rather than just responding to single commands.
• More powerful generative capabilities: A richer ability to summarise text, generate content, assist across apps.
• Smarter multi-step workflows: For instance, “Book me a table after I finish this podcast, pick up groceries and remind me tomorrow” type tasks.
• Improved search and reasoning: The reports mention “AI-powered web search” for Siri. MacRumors
• Integration across Apple ecosystem: iPhone, iPad, Mac, maybe HomePod/Apple TV – making Siri a more central AI interface rather than just voice commands.

Strategic Implications for Apple

• Competitive positioning: With rivals like Google Assistant and Alexa already embedding advanced AI, this move helps Apple stay relevant.
• Platform shift: By using external models like Gemini, Apple signals its platform will become model-agnostic (your choice of AI model).
• Privacy posture: Hosting the model on Apple’s own infrastructure helps maintain Apple’s privacy branding—even if the model is developed externally.
• Ecosystem lock-in: A stronger Siri means greater value for Apple’s ecosystem of hardware and services.

Potential Challenges & Considerations

• Decision still pending: Apple reportedly hasn’t committed yet—there’s still an internal decision whether to go with Gemini or continue with its own model.
• Privacy & data-sharing concerns: Partnering with Google raises questions about how much data is shared and processed externally.
• Expectations vs reality: Reports note that “there’s no guarantee users will embrace it, that it will work seamlessly or that it can undo years of damage to the Siri brand.”
• Rollout risk/time: Even if March 2026 is the target, delays and performance issues are possible. Past AI feature rollouts at Apple have been postponed. Reuters

What This Means for India & Users Around the World

For Indian users (and other global markets) the implications include:

• If Apple uses Gemini, Siri might support richer language capabilities, better reasoning and local-language support could improve over time.
• Pricing and availability of new features may depend on regional rollout strategies.
• Users should watch for settings and opt-in controls, especially around privacy, data sharing and model choice (if Apple allows choice between models).
• Access to the upgraded Siri might depend on hardware (new iPhones, iPads, HomePod etc) or software updates (iOS 27 or later) – so Indian users may have to wait.

Conclusion

The decision to use Gemini for new Siri signifies a turning point for Apple’s AI ambitions. If executed well, it could significantly upgrade what Siri can do, making it smarter, more generative and more central to how we interact with devices. But the path is not risk-free—Apple must balance performance, privacy, ecosystem integration and user trust.

We’ll know more when Apple officially shares its roadmap (likely around its next developer conference in 2026) and when hardware/software launches begin to reflect this change.