Key Takeaways
- Apple is overhauling Siri from a voice assistant to a conversational AI chatbot, marking the most significant change since its launch in 2011.
- The new Siri will run on Google’s Gemini models, following a partnership between the two companies.
- The upgraded Siri is expected to be unveiled in February 2026 and will integrate Gemini’s advanced generative AI capabilities.
- The new Siri will enable more natural conversations, smarter contextual responses, and deeper integration with apps.
- Apple’s decision to partner with Google reflects its struggles in developing its own AI technology and its willingness to lean on external expertise.
Introduction to the New Siri
Apple is preparing to revolutionize its virtual assistant, Siri, by transforming it from a simple voice assistant to a conversational AI chatbot. This significant overhaul, which is the most dramatic change since Siri’s launch in 2011, aims to provide users with a more natural and intuitive experience. The new Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini models, following a partnership between the two tech giants that was finalized earlier this month. According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple is planning to unveil the upgraded Siri in February 2026, which will mark a major milestone in the company’s efforts to improve its AI capabilities.
What’s Changing in Siri
The new Siri will integrate Gemini’s advanced generative AI capabilities, enabling more natural conversations, smarter contextual responses, and deeper integration with apps. This partnership will give iPhone users access to Google’s cutting-edge AI technology directly within Apple’s ecosystem, signaling Apple’s willingness to lean on external AI expertise rather than building everything in-house. The new Siri will be able to handle tasks such as content generation, file analysis, summarization, and coding help, and will integrate with Apple’s core apps, including Photos, Mail, Messages, and Music. Additionally, Apple is developing a feature that will allow Siri to view open windows and adjust device settings, further enhancing its functionality.
Apple’s AI Struggles
The deal between Apple and Google reflects Apple’s rocky journey in AI. The company had initially planned to release a major Siri upgrade in spring 2025, but it was delayed to 2026. Furthermore, Apple’s AI chief, John Giannandrea, was sidelined from development, and the company lost key talent, including foundation models head Ruoming Pang, to Meta. Apple’s research and development spending has also been relatively low, hovering at just 8% of revenue, while its competitors have poured hundreds of billions into AI infrastructure. A former Apple executive noted that the Google deal was "a necessary byproduct of Apple’s decision not to ‘go big’ on its AI investments like its competitors."
Partnership with Google
The partnership between Apple and Google is a significant development in the tech industry, as it brings together two major players with complementary strengths. Google’s Gemini models will provide Apple with the advanced AI capabilities it needs to enhance Siri, while Apple’s ecosystem will provide Google with a vast user base and a platform to showcase its AI technology. The deal also reflects Apple’s recognition of its own limitations in AI development and its willingness to collaborate with other companies to achieve its goals. However, it remains to be seen how this partnership will play out in the long term and how it will impact the competitive landscape of the tech industry.
Implications and Future Developments
The introduction of the new Siri is expected to have significant implications for Apple’s ecosystem and its users. The upgraded Siri will enable more natural conversations, smarter contextual responses, and deeper integration with apps, making it a more powerful and intuitive virtual assistant. However, the existing ChatGPT integration with Apple Intelligence remains intact, at least for now. Analysts are not optimistic about its future, noting that having two large models would not make sense for Apple, given the economies of scale. As Apple continues to develop its own AI capabilities, it will be interesting to see how the company balances its partnership with Google with its own ambitions in the AI space. Ultimately, the success of the new Siri will depend on its ability to provide users with a seamless and intuitive experience, and its impact on the tech industry will be closely watched in the coming months.
