Apple Intelligence first launched in 2024, but it’s increasingly looking like 2026 will be a far more important year for the AI platform. And it all starts with ‘Siri 2.0’ coming this spring.
Google deal isn’t just for Siri, but also ‘the next generation of Apple Foundation Models’
It’s been a big week for Apple Intelligence and Siri news.
The long-rumored partnership between Apple and Google became official. And both the formal statement and subsequent reporting indicates that Siri’s iOS 26.4 relaunch is just the beginning of what’s coming.
To start, Apple and Google’s joint statement Monday showed that the deal is about far more than just Siri.
Per the press release:
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.
Apple isn’t just using Gemini-based models for its new Siri. Instead, Google technology will be at the heart of the “next generation of Apple Foundation Models.”
This represents a major pivot for Apple. And it’s not one that will pay off all at once—not with Siri or other Apple Intelligence features.
iOS 26.4 will kickstart new Siri era, but bigger changes might take longer
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