In a significant move for the tech industry, Apple has entered into a multi-year partnership with Google. The agreement focuses on leveraging Google's Gemini artificial intelligence models to enhance Apple's intelligent features.
A strategic AI alliance
The collaboration was officially announced on Monday, January 12, 2026. This deal represents a notable shift in Apple's artificial intelligence strategy. The company will integrate Gemini models to power a more personalized version of its virtual assistant, Siri.
Apple demonstrated this enhanced Siri at the Worldwide Developers Conference back in 2024. Now, with Google's technology, the company aims to deliver on those long-awaited AI promises.
Joint statement reveals details
Both tech giants released a joint statement following the announcement. Apple stated that after careful evaluation, it determined Google's AI technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models.
The company expressed excitement about the innovative new experiences this partnership will unlock for Apple users worldwide. The statement confirmed that the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology.
Privacy remains a priority
Despite this external partnership, Apple emphasized its commitment to privacy. The company asserted that Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and through Private Cloud Compute.
This approach maintains Apple's industry-leading privacy standards. The arrangement likely means Google's models will operate either on-device or from Apple's own servers. This setup helps protect user data while utilizing advanced AI capabilities.
Currently, there is no clear information about whether Google will have access to Apple customer data. The companies have not disclosed specific details about data sharing arrangements.
Background and financial implications
Reports indicate this arrangement has been in discussion for many months. The delay partly stems from Apple's prolonged development of an improved Siri. Previous hints suggested Apple might seek external support for frontier AI models.
According to a Bloomberg report from November, Apple could potentially pay around $1 billion annually to use Google's foundational models. This substantial investment underscores the importance of this partnership for Apple's AI ambitions.
Market reaction and context
Following the partnership announcement, Apple shares experienced a modest increase of about 0.3 percent. Alphabet, Google's parent company, saw its shares gain approximately one percent.
This deal arrives after years of antitrust scrutiny over a previous arrangement. In that earlier agreement, Google paid billions to become Apple's default search engine service.
The current partnership is particularly critical for Apple. Despite having a massive user base and strong cash flow, the company has struggled to create competitive AI-powered products compared to industry peers.
What this means for users
With Gemini integration, the revamped Siri is expected to understand personalized context much better. Users can anticipate more tailored experiences across Apple's ecosystem.
This collaboration signals Apple's growing reliance on external AI laboratories. While developing its own technology, the company recognizes the value of partnering with established AI leaders like Google.
The multi-year agreement positions both companies for continued innovation in artificial intelligence. It represents a strategic alignment between two of the world's most influential technology firms.
