Apple could give Siri a big Gemini upgrade – here are 5 reasons why I really hope that happens
Apple is reportedly in discussion with Google to add Gemini to Private Cloud Compute, ready to power Siri with Apple Intelligence.
The news came from top insider Mark Gurman, who said, “A few weeks ago, Apple approached the search giant about making a version of its Gemini AI models.”
Gurman even said Google was developing this custom model right now with Apple’s involvement, pointing towards the potential for a Google Gemini-powered, Apple Intelligence-branded Siri.
As TechRadar’s Senior AI Writer, I test out all of the best AI models, and Google Gemini is up there with my favorite chatbots on the market.
Apple’s AI strategy has been underwhelming, to say the least, but reports of the Cupertino-based firm bringing in Google to superpower Apple Intelligence could be the best thing to happen to the iPhone in years.
Here are five reasons why I really hope Apple adds Google Gemini to Siri.
1. Gemini Live is best in class
AI voice assistants are everywhere these days, yet we’re still waiting for Apple to truly supercharge Siri with Apple Intelligence.
While OpenAI’s ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode is good, it falls short of Google’s Gemini Live, which I believe is the best AI-powered voice assistant on smartphones at the moment.
I like Gemini Live so much, in fact, that I’ve assigned the voice assistant to my iPhone 16 Pro Max‘s Action button, using it frequently instead of activating Siri on my device.
If Apple is looking to power Siri through an AI model from another tech giant, then Gemini Live is proof that Google is the perfect partner to do so.
Apple has a ready-made Siri replacement staring it in the face, and all it needs is some swanky branding and compliance with Apple’s strict privacy vision.
2. Gemini reads your email and calendar already
One of the best ways to use Gemini at the moment is by asking it questions based on your other Google services, such as Gmail and Google Calendar.
Adding Gemini into Siri would allow iPhone users to ask questions about these incredibly popular services, taking us one step closer towards the AI personal assistant everyone hopes for.
Considering the AI model is already able to tap into Google services, you’d expect it to be relatively easy for Apple and Google to offer similar abilities with Apple’s most popular apps, such as Mail, Notes, and Calendar.
When Apple revealed Apple Intelligence last year, Siri was able to listen to your requests and implement them across iOS. Gemini basically does that on Android already, so why not allow it to do the same on iPhone?
3. A smooth transition
The AI options available are endless, so having some parity between iPhone and Android would actually be a great thing for smartphone users.
Think about it, Gemini powers the AI in the best flagship Android devices like the Samsung S25 and the Google Pixel 10. But what if a similar experience was bundled into every iPhone, just with a little bit more Apple polish?
I’d love to use Gemini as my go-to AI assistant on my iPhone, and quite frankly, I already do. However, having it built into Siri would make it feel even more at home on iPhone, and best yet, for consumers, it means the switch to Android or vice versa, from an AI perspective, would be incredibly smooth.
4. It’s ready to go
I don’t know about you, but I’m bored of waiting for a new version of Siri that’s capable of what I want from a voice assistant.
And quite frankly, the thought of purchasing an iPhone 17 without any Siri improvements makes me feel a bit sour towards the upcoming iPhone.
Gemini works, and it’s already good to go, so adding implementation into Siri and powering Apple’s voice assistant with Google’s hard work would mean an intelligent Siri sooner rather than later.
Currently, I have no hope for an AI-powered Siri by the end of the year, and quite honestly, that’s a real disappointment, considering I bought the iPhone 16 Pro Max with the promise of “AI for the rest of us.”
If Apple opted to use Gemini, we could get the AI Siri we’ve wanted for what feels like an eternity very soon, and that’s only a good thing for Apple users who are getting impatient waiting for a voice assistant that knows what year it is.
5. There’s already a fruitful partnership
Google and Apple have been working together for a very long time, with Google Search as the default search engine on Safari.
That relationship could be in jeopardy with a multi-billion-dollar antitrust case soon to be decided in the US. Following that lawsuit, there could be a big shift in iPhone’s moving forward, and it might require new agreements between the two companies.
Could AI and Gemini be at the forefront of the discussions? Gurman says the companies haven’t discussed this matter yet, but he believes that “if Apple and Google come to an agreement, it would be the basis of a new arrangement around search as well.”
Apple might choose to steer clear of using a Gemini AI model to power Apple Intelligence, but considering what we’ve seen so far, I hope Tim Cook and co are at least contemplating it.
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Apple is reportedly in discussion with Google to add Gemini to Private Cloud Compute, ready to power Siri with Apple Intelligence. The news came from top insider Mark Gurman, who said, “A few weeks ago, Apple approached the search giant about making a version of its Gemini AI models.” Gurman…
