Apple is reportedly powering its revamped Siri with Google's Gemini AI, even though internal testing found a competitor's model superior.
Apple's long-awaited AI overhaul for Siri is finally arriving this spring with iOS 26.4, but a new report reveals an unexpected twist behind the scenes. According to recent claims, the tech giant will quietly rely on Google's Gemini models to power the upgraded assistant, running on Apple's private cloud servers. The catch? Apple apparently tested Gemini against Anthropic's Claude and found Claude to be the better model. Yet the company chose Google anyway, reportedly for financial reasons rooted in their existing partnership, where Google already pays Apple to remain the default search engine on its devices.
The arrangement appears to be a calculated business move rather than a technical one. Apple is said to be commissioning a custom Gemini-based model tailored to its needs, while neither company is expected to publicly acknowledge the partnership. Apple will market the improved Siri as its own proprietary AI technology, keeping Google's involvement entirely behind the curtain. This approach mirrors how tech giants often operate in the AI space, where the actual technology powering consumer-facing products frequently differs from what companies publicly claim.
The community has reacted with mixed feelings to this revelation. Some observers expressed frustration that Apple passed on what it deemed a superior option, viewing the decision as a missed opportunity to differentiate itself in the competitive AI landscape. Others, however, saw a silver lining in the arrangement.
Commenters noted that having Apple's privacy-focused infrastructure handle the AI processing, even if powered by Google's models, could represent a meaningful step toward more private AI experiences. The tension between financial pragmatism and technical excellence has become a central theme in how people are discussing the move. Note that workers interested in joining the industry can start with online AI courses.
This decision underscores a broader reality in the AI industry: the best technology doesn't always win out. Instead, existing business relationships, cost considerations, and strategic partnerships often determine which models end up in consumer products. Apple's choice to prioritize its financial relationship with Google (Bloomberg covers the company's recent financial wins) over what it internally determined to be a superior alternative raises questions about how much technical merit actually influences these high-stakes decisions. For users, the practical impact may be minimal if the Gemini-powered Siri performs well in real-world scenarios.
The story also highlights Apple's ongoing struggle to develop competitive AI capabilities independently. By relying on Google's technology, Apple is essentially outsourcing a core component of its AI strategy, even as it positions itself as an innovator in the space. Whether this pragmatic approach will satisfy users and investors remains to be seen when the new Siri finally arrives. We found more coverage at 9to5Mac.
