According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is finalizing a deal to pay Google roughly $1 billion per year. The goal? To license an ultrapowerful, 1.2 trillion parameter version of Google’s Gemini AI to run the long-promised overhaul of Siri.
This custom Gemini system is a huge leap from the 150 billion parameter model Apple currently uses in Apple Intelligence. This move will vastly expand Siri’s power, allowing it to understand complex context and process data far more effectively.
The effort to upgrade Siri with a third-party model, known internally as “Glenwood,” is reportedly being led by Apple heavyweights Mike Rockwell (of Vision Pro fame) and software chief Craig Federighi. The new assistant itself, codenamed “Linwood” and planned for a future iOS release (reportedly iOS 26.4), won’t be entirely run by Google.
Under the proposed arrangement, Google’s Gemini model will handle Siri’s core “summarizer” and “planner” functions. These are the critical components that help the assistant synthesize information and figure out how to execute complex, multi-step tasks. Other Siri features will apparently continue to use Apple’s own in-house models.
For Apple users, the biggest concern is always privacy. Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers will utilize the Gemini model. Unlike the Safari search deal, this partnership is expected to be a behind-the-scenes arrangement. Apple will reportedly treat Google as a technology supplier, not a public-facing partner.
For Apple, this move signals a major acknowledgment that it has fallen behind in the generative AI race. After testing models from OpenAI (ChatGPT) and Anthropic (Claude), Apple reportedly zeroed in on Google’s technology as the best interim solution to catch up.
Apple reportedly does not want to rely on Gemini as a long-term solution. Despite losing some key AI talent, the company’s management fully intends to replace Gemini with its own powerful in-house model once it’s ready. In fact, Apple’s models team is said to be working on its own 1 trillion parameter model, which it hopes to have ready as early as next year.
What do you think of this partnership? Is it a smart move for Apple, or are you concerned about Google getting closer to the iOS ecosystem? Let us know in the comments. Stay updated with the latest news on this by downloading the Appleosophy App from the App Store or by visiting our website.
