We’re still waiting patiently for the arrival of Apple’s AI-powered version of Siri, but a new deal with Google could mean that the upgraded voice assistant is one step closer to launching.
In a joint statement given to CNBC (which we’ve also now received), Apple and Google say they’re about to enter a multi-year partnership. Apple will use Google’s AI models to power artificial intelligence features, including a next-gen Siri later this year.
Embarrassing for Apple, good news for iPhone fans
We can’t say that we’re entirely surprised that it’s come to this. Late last year, we reported that Gemini may be the only way for Apple’s AI Siri voice to see the light of day following rumors sparked by Mark Gurman at Bloomberg. Gurman first reported on this rumor in August 2025, then doubled down on his findings a few months after.
Apple first unveiled its plans to launch an AI-upgraded Siri during WWDC 2024 where it announced its multi-modal Apple Intelligence platform, which offers a slew of generative AI tools for image editing, organization, and functions such as your standard AI search summaries. It was set for a 2025 launch, but here we are in 2026 without it.
It’s been a bit of a rocky road for the next-gen Siri. Following Apple’s WWDC 2025 event, the company delayed its launch and promised a spring 2026 launch. Between now and then, a handful of Apple’s competitors have taken the AI world by storm, including Google’s upgrades for Gemini for Home. Amazon has also dipped its toe into the AI waters with the launch of Alexa+, which has recently launched on the web.
On paper, the Apple-Google partnership sounds like great news for iPhone owners, who’ve been struggling away with the increasingly creaking current version of Siri. But it remains to be seen exactly when the new Siri will launch, and what this all means for its current ChatGPT integration.
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rowan.davies@futurenet.com (Rowan Davies)
