GoKawiilApple’s painfully slow launch of the new Siri has become such a long-running saga, it seems to have all the makings of a movie – though probably not one we will see launch on Apple TV.
The announcement at the start of this year that it will be powered by Google’s Gemini models finally gave us reason for optimism, and the latest Apple AI news could be an equally important development …
Even the most supportive of Apple commenters reached the end of their patience after Apple advertised new Siri features as if they were imminent way back in 2024 and then had to admit that they very much weren’t. It’s now 2026 and we’re still waiting.
Gemini-powered Siri
The first piece of good news came at the beginning of this year, when Apple confirmed reports that it was teaming up with Google to use Gemini AI models to power future Siri features.
Google’s Gemini model offers exactly the kind of personalized intelligence long promised by Apple. The big difference was that Google didn’t just have slick promotional videos – the company instead launched a beta version of its Personal Intelligence feature.
Personal Intelligence can retrieve specific details from text, photos, or videos in your Google apps to customize Gemini responses. This includes Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Drive, etc), Google Photos, your YouTube watch history, and of all of the various Google search services you’ve used (Search, Shopping, News, Maps, Google Flights, and Hotels). The Apple version will of course pull information from Apple apps like Mail, Calendar, Photos, and Notes.
Moving from Apple’s vaporware to demonstrable services was a huge step along the way to actually delivering the new Siri.
A choice of 3rd-party AI models
A Bloomberg report last month said that Siri would be able to integrate with other third-party AI chatbot apps, and a follow-up yesterday provided more detail.
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