Apple May Use Google Cloud for AI-Powered Siri

This potential partnership extends beyond just cloud storage, with discussions for Apple to license Google's Gemini AI models to power a significantly upgraded Siri. This collaboration is part of a multi-year deal that could see Apple paying Google around $1 billion annually. Apple's own AI initiative, internally codenamed "Project Greymatter," aims to integrate artificial intelligence across its core apps like Safari, Photos, and Notes. While some of these features will be processed on-device to maintain privacy, more complex AI tasks would be handled by cloud servers. This move signals a strategic shift for Apple, which has historically preferred to develop its core technologies in-house. The company is pursuing a hybrid cloud strategy, using a combination of its own private cloud with services from providers like Google and Amazon Web Services to avoid massive investments in its own data centers. The collaboration aims to address Siri's struggle to keep pace with competitors. Google's cloud infrastructure, which utilizes custom-built Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), is considered more efficient for the large language models that power advanced AI. To address privacy concerns, Google would be required to adhere to Apple's strict standards. Data processed for Siri requests would reportedly not be stored on Google's servers, a system referred to as "Stateless AI." This isn't the first major collaboration between the two tech giants; Google already pays Apple an estimated $20 billion a year to be the default search engine in the Safari browser. The upgraded, Gemini-powered Siri is anticipated to roll out in phases, with significant enhancements expected in upcoming iOS releases like 26.4 and a more conversational, chatbot-style assistant potentially arriving with iOS 27.