Apple Picks Gemini
Google (CNBC, MacRumors, AppleInsider, Hacker News):
Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.
After careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google’s Al technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple users. Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards.
How much did Apple have to pay to get Google to say, “Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards”?
Gurman has also previously reported that those delayed Apple Intelligence features are likely to make their debut in iOS 26.4 this spring.
It’s unclear exactly where in the timeframe we are. Given that 26.3 is already in beta, and 26.4 is expected in a few months, it’s possible that work has long since started on this, even if it’s only being officially announced now. Even with the leg-up provided by Google’s models, it seems unlikely the company could simply roll in that tech for a feature due out in short order.
Sort of weird that they would announce such a big deal this way rather than official releases/interviews/etc, then again, the talk has been – at least on Apple’s side – to downplay the partnership. We get it, it’s sort of embarrassing to have to outsource your work in such a key aspect of technology, let alone one you believed you were at the forefront of not that long ago, at least with regard to Siri.
The Google deal is now necessary because of past mistakes but it is far from ideal—Apple needed this all in-house for years. It will be very difficult to compete with Google on integrated, optimized software products, and they will be paying Google for the opportunity to compete with them at all. Knowledge work is going to look fundamentally different once Google does Claude Code for Google Workspaces.
Previously:
- John Giannandrea Leaving Apple
- Gemini 3.0 and Antigravity
- White Label Gemini on Private Cloud Compute
- Google Is Winning on Every AI Front
- Apple Intelligence Training
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"Apple needed this all in-house for years"
What does "this" refer to in this sentence? LLMs? I think Apple lucked out not being part of that insane money pit.
So it is bad to make money from customer’s data but it is OK to make money using a technology from a company that used customer’s data?
Also wasn’t it suggested in the past that the Titan project was not a complete waste of billions of dollars because Apple would use the deep-learning/AI stuff they worked on during this failed project?
"Sort of weird that they would announce such a big deal this way rather than official releases/interviews/etc"
It sure is a weird coincidence that this would come out now, in such an informal, let's-just-get-this-out-there-now fashion, just as all these calls for Apple and Google to deal with X/Grok according to their policies are piling up. Huh!
