Apple to Open Siri to Multiple AI Chatbots, Ending OpenAI Exclusivity
In a significant strategic shift, Apple is planning to open its Siri voice assistant to multiple artificial intelligence chatbots simultaneously. This move will effectively terminate the exclusive arrangement with OpenAI that has been in place since the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024.
Broadening AI Integration with New Extensions Feature
According to a report from Bloomberg, this development is part of a broader reconsideration of how Siri integrates with third-party AI technologies. The upcoming feature, tentatively named "Extensions," will be introduced in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. Apple is expected to announce all three operating systems at WWDC on June 8.
The Extensions feature will empower users to connect Siri to their preferred AI chatbot, whether it be Google's Gemini, Anthropic's Claude, OpenAI's ChatGPT, or other options available on the App Store. To utilize this functionality, users will need to download the chatbot's application, enable it within the Apple Intelligence and Siri settings, and then route Siri queries directly to the selected service.
Moving Beyond the OpenAI Partnership
Apple and OpenAI initially announced their partnership at WWDC in June 2024. This collaboration triggered a strong reaction from Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who labeled the integration as "an unacceptable security violation" and threatened to ban Apple devices from Tesla and SpaceX premises. Musk even suggested that visitors carrying iPhones might be required to store them in Faraday cages at the door.
The original deal reportedly involved no monetary exchange; OpenAI gained access to a massive new user base, while Apple acquired a functional chatbot without the need to build one from the ground up. However, this arrangement now appears to have been a temporary placeholder as Apple expands its AI strategy.
Financial Incentives and Deeper Integrations
There is a clear financial logic behind this strategic pivot. When users subscribe to a chatbot through Siri's new Extensions feature, they will likely do so via the App Store, where Apple collects commissions of up to 30% on every sale. Opening the platform to multiple AI providers transforms Siri into a potential revenue stream for the tech giant.
Apple has already moved considerably beyond its initial OpenAI agreement. In January 2026, the company announced a multi-year deal with Google to utilize Gemini as the foundation for its next generation of Foundation Models. Reports indicate that Apple is paying approximately $1 billion annually for this access. Furthermore, according to The Information, Apple retains the right to distill Gemini into smaller, on-device models, granting it greater control over the underlying technology than previously understood.
Background Operations and User Choice
Regardless of a user's default chatbot preference, Google's deeper integration with Apple Intelligence is expected to persist. Even if an individual selects Claude as their primary chatbot, Gemini will reportedly continue handling specific background tasks within the Apple Intelligence framework.
For a company that has faced challenges with Siri delays and internal restructuring over the past two years in its efforts to catch up in the AI race, this move represents an acknowledgment that no single partner can provide a comprehensive solution. By opening Siri to multiple AI chatbots, Apple is embracing a more flexible and user-centric approach, allowing consumers the freedom to choose their preferred AI assistant rather than being locked into a single option.
