Apple AI has entered a corrective phase after the company confirmed a multi-year partnership with Google that will place Gemini models at the core of Apple’s future artificial intelligence architecture. The agreement, reported on 12 January 2026, follows repeated delays to Apple Intelligence features and the stalled overhaul of Siri promised in 2024–2025. The shift affects iPhone, iPad and Mac users globally and is expected to unlock long-delayed capabilities later this year. Apple said the decision followed an internal review of its AI strategy amid leadership changes and rising pressure from competitors, reports The WP Times with reference to CNBC.

Why Apple AI reached a turning point in early 2026

Google later confirmed the scope and duration of the partnership in a public statement on X, saying it would work with Apple “for several years”. According to the post, the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be “based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technologies”, which are expected to support future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalised version of Siri planned for release later this year. The statement was published on Google’s official account on X.

At the same time, a joint statement issued by Google and Apple stressed that Apple Intelligence will continue to operate on Apple devices and within Apple’s Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, and will comply with what the companies described as Apple’s industry-leading data protection and privacy standards.

At the same time, Google intensified competitive pressure with the release of Gemini 3, while OpenAI expanded ChatGPT’s enterprise and consumer capabilities. Against that backdrop, Apple began reassessing whether its closed, in-house AI approach could deliver comparable results within an acceptable timeframe.

What the Apple–Google Gemini deal actually includes

According to statements published by both companies, Google’s Gemini models and cloud technologies will form the foundation layer of Apple’s next-generation AI systems. Apple emphasised that this does not change the Apple Intelligence interface or move user data into Google services.

Apple said AI processing will continue in three places only:
on the device itself, inside Apple’s Private Cloud Compute environment, or — if the user explicitly agrees — via third-party services such as ChatGPT.

Google confirmed that Gemini will supply model technology, not user data. The joint statement stressed that Apple Intelligence will continue to comply with Apple’s privacy standards, which are documented at apple.com and support apple.

Neither company disclosed commercial terms, pricing or licensing structures. The partnership was described as “multi-year”, with no fixed end date announced.

How Gemini is expected to change Siri in practical terms

Apple first announced a full Siri reset two years ago, promising an assistant capable of understanding personal context and performing actions across applications. Those features were repeatedly postponed. Apple now says Gemini-based Foundation Models are intended to deliver those functions in 2026.

In practical use, this means Siri is expected to:
understand multi-step requests rather than single commands,
access user data such as calendars, messages and reminders with permission,
and trigger actions across third-party apps instead of redirecting users manually.

Apple has not confirmed whether all existing devices will support the new Siri features. Compatibility details are expected to be published later in 2026 through official updates and developer documentation at developer.apple.com.

How this fits into Apple’s wider AI strategy

Despite adopting Google technology at the model level, Apple has not abandoned its hybrid approach. ChatGPT will remain available as an optional extension inside Siri and Apple Intelligence, running on OpenAI servers only when users explicitly opt in.

This leaves Apple with a three-layer AI structure:
Apple-controlled on-device processing,
Apple-controlled Private Cloud Compute,
and optional external models such as ChatGPT.

Gemini now sits beneath that structure as the core model engine, accelerating capabilities Apple was unable to finalise internally.

What users should do and where to verify updates

For now, users do not need to change settings or install additional software. Existing devices will continue to operate normally until Apple releases updated Apple Intelligence features.

Users can verify official information and eligibility via:
apple.com
support.apple.com
and Apple keynote announcements later in 2026.

Developers and enterprise clients are expected to receive technical briefings through Apple’s developer portal and enterprise support channels.

The shift to Google Gemini does not immediately change how Apple devices work, but it reshapes how Apple plans to compete in artificial intelligence. For users in Ukraine and abroad, the impact will become visible later this year, when delayed Siri features and Apple Intelligence upgrades finally move from announcements into everyday use.

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