Apple's Google Gemini deal, explained
Quick answer
In January 2026, Apple and Google announced a multi-year deal for Apple to use a custom Google Gemini model to power Siri AI and Apple Intelligence's cloud features. Apple reportedly pays around $1 billion a year, and the model is reported at roughly 1.2 trillion parameters. Apple — not Google — runs it, inside Private Cloud Compute.
What was announced
Apple and Google confirmed the partnership in a joint statement on January 12, 2026: a multi-year licensing arrangement for Apple to use Google's Gemini models and cloud technology to power its AI features, notably the revamped Siri AI. Apple reportedly evaluated proposals from OpenAI and Anthropic before choosing Google, and showcased the result at WWDC on June 8, 2026.
Confirmed vs. reported — this part matters
Apple confirmed the partnership itself, and that Siri's cloud features run on advanced models inside Private Cloud Compute. But the figures everyone repeats — roughly $1 billion per year, and a custom model of around 1.2 trillion parameters — come from reporting by outlets like Bloomberg, MacRumors, and CNBC, not from an official Apple disclosure. Treat them as high-confidence reporting, not Apple-confirmed specs.
How it actually works
The custom Gemini model weights run on Apple's infrastructure, not Google's servers. Apple says no raw user data is sent to Google, and that data isn't stored after processing. Simpler tasks stay on-device on Apple's own foundation models. See what Gemini is for the model side.
What about ChatGPT?
Apple's 2024 ChatGPT integration remains, for now, as an opt-in for complex queries. Analysts expect its role to narrow over time as Gemini handles more of the default intelligence.
The open risk
The arrangement sits against the backdrop of Google's ongoing antitrust situation in the US. An unfavorable outcome could force the two companies to restructure parts of the deal — worth watching as it's a real uncertainty, not a settled matter.
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