Apple to power new Siri with a custom version of Google’s Gemini — $1B deal and plans for its own 1T‑parameter model

Bloomberg reports Apple is finalizing plans to use a customized version of Google’s Gemini to power its upgraded Siri, with the company reportedly paying about $1 billion per year for the technology. Gemini will run on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers and take on key roles such as Siri’s summarizer and planner — functions that synthesize information and coordinate complex tasks.

Apple will still use some in‑house models, but the Gemini integration is aimed at boosting Siri’s ability to execute multi‑step requests and manage app tasks. The deal is said to be largely behind the scenes; Apple does not plan to advertise the Google partnership and intends to ultimately replace Gemini with its own cloud model — a one trillion‑parameter system it hopes to deploy for consumer use as early as next year.

Why this matters

Using Gemini is a major strategic move: it accelerates Siri’s capabilities by tapping a leading large language model while Apple works to scale its own models. The reported $1B annual payment is a significant investment, albeit smaller than amounts Google has paid Apple to be the default search engine in the past.

Context and timeline

• Siri’s relaunch has already been delayed; Apple has explored partnerships with Anthropic and OpenAI before settling on a customized Gemini layer.
• Gemini will help with summarization and planning — key pieces for an assistant that acts on users’ behalf across apps and services.
• Apple aims to bring a massive in‑house cloud model online (≈1T parameters) potentially next year, which would allow it to replace third‑party tech over time.

Open questions

Key details remain: how Apple will combine Gemini with its own models, what privacy and security safeguards will apply when running Google‑derived models on Apple’s cloud, and how seamlessly the assistant will perform in real‑world tasks. Observers will also watch whether Apple’s eventual 1T‑parameter model matches the capabilities it expects from Gemini.

For further reporting, see the original coverage (opens in a new tab): Engadget.

Discussion: Are you comfortable with Apple using an adapted Google model to power Siri — or would you prefer Apple wait for its own model? What privacy or performance safeguards would you expect?