Apple is gearing up for a revolutionary transformation of its voice assistant Siri, turning it from a basic voice command tool into a sophisticated conversational AI chatbot. This represents the most significant overhaul since Siri first launched back in 2011, fundamentally changing how users interact with their Apple devices.
The Google Partnership Driving Siri's Evolution
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Apple has finalized a crucial partnership with Google that will power this new version of Siri. The upgraded assistant will run on Google's advanced Gemini AI models, marking a strategic collaboration between two of tech's biggest rivals. This partnership was reportedly finalized earlier this month, setting the stage for Siri's dramatic transformation.
February 2026: The Planned Unveiling
Apple appears to be preparing for a major announcement about the new Siri in the second half of February 2026. The company plans to give demonstrations of the enhanced functionality during this unveiling, showing users exactly how the transformed assistant will work. This timeline suggests Apple is less than a month away from officially revealing the results of its partnership with Google.
What's Changing in the New Siri
The integration of Gemini's advanced generative AI capabilities will enable Siri to engage in more natural conversations, provide smarter contextual responses, and offer deeper integration with various applications. This partnership could give iPhone users direct access to Google's cutting-edge AI technology within Apple's ecosystem, representing a significant shift in Apple's approach to artificial intelligence.
Enhanced Functionality and Integration
The new Siri will work with both voice and text inputs, handling a wide range of tasks including content generation, file analysis, document summarization, and even coding assistance. It will integrate seamlessly with Apple's core applications such as Photos, Mail, Messages, and Music, accessing their content to respond more intelligently to user requests.
Apple is also developing an innovative feature that will allow Siri to view open windows on devices and adjust various settings automatically, creating a more intuitive and responsive user experience.
Apple's AI Challenges Made Outside Help Necessary
This partnership with Google reflects Apple's challenging journey in artificial intelligence development. The company had to delay its major Siri upgrade from spring 2025 to 2026, sidelined AI chief John Giannandrea from development work, and lost key talent including foundation models head Ruoming Pang to Meta. These setbacks highlight the difficulties Apple has faced in keeping pace with AI advancements.
Investment Disparities and Strategic Decisions
Apple's research and development spending has remained at approximately 8 percent of revenue, while competitors have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into AI infrastructure development. As one former Apple executive explained to the Financial Times, the Google deal represents "a necessary byproduct of Apple's decision not to 'go big' on its AI investments like its competitors."
While Apple still plans to eventually develop its own trillion-parameter AI model, the company is currently betting that Google can deliver what its own teams have struggled to achieve. This strategic partnership allows Apple to leverage Google's AI expertise while continuing to work on its own long-term solutions.
The Future of Apple's AI Ecosystem
The existing ChatGPT integration with Apple Intelligence remains intact for now, but analysts express skepticism about its long-term viability. Gene Munster at Deepwater Asset Management noted that "having two large models, given the economies of scale, wouldn't make a ton of sense for Apple," suggesting that the Google partnership might eventually replace other AI collaborations.
This transformation of Siri represents a pivotal moment in Apple's AI strategy, demonstrating the company's willingness to collaborate with external partners to deliver cutting-edge technology to its users while continuing to develop its own capabilities for the future.
