Apple has officially selected Google’s Gemini AI model for a major update to its Siri voice assistant, which is set to be released this year. The multi-year deal not only deepens the partnership between the tech giants but also significantly strengthens Alphabet’s (Google’s parent company) position in the fight against OpenAI. Reuters reports.
Google confirmed on Monday that after a thorough evaluation, Apple has identified Gemini as the most powerful foundation for its systems. In addition to Siri, Google’s models will power other features of Apple’s upcoming Intelligence platform.
Key facts about the deal:
- Reach: Google’s technology will gain access to Apple’s vast base of more than 2 billion active devices.
- Capitalization: Amid the news, Alphabet’s market value crossed the $4 trillion mark on Monday. The company’s shares have risen 65% over the past year, driven by its AI successes.
- Privacy: Apple Intelligence will continue to operate primarily on devices and through Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining high privacy standards.
While Apple has integrated OpenAI’s ChatGPT to answer complex queries in late 2024, the new deal with Google shifts the balance of power.
The new alliance has already sparked a flurry of discussion in Silicon Valley. Elon Musk, founder of rival firm xAI, has called the partnership an “unreasonable concentration of power” for Google, given the company’s control over Android and Chrome.
It’s worth noting that the deal builds on a long-standing partnership in which Google is the default search engine on Apple devices. This arrangement generates tens of billions of dollars in annual revenue for Apple.