Apple says its new AI-powered Siri will use Google’s Gemini language models (arstechnica.com)

Apple has announced that its upcoming, more intelligent version of Siri will leverage Google’s Gemini language models as part of a multi-year partnership. This collaboration aims to enhance Siri’s capabilities and deliver innovative experiences to users, marking a significant step for Apple in utilizing external AI technologies. The decision was based on an extensive evaluation, with Apple stating that Google's technology offers the most capable foundation for its AI initiatives. Reports suggest Apple may be paying around $1 billion annually for access to these models. The partnership is noteworthy for the AI/ML community, as it reinforces a growing trend of tech companies collaborating rather than solely competing in the AI space. By hosting the Gemini model on its own Private Cloud Compute servers, Apple aims to maintain user data privacy while utilizing Google’s advanced capabilities. Moreover, this arrangement highlights Apple’s commitment to enhance its own AI models in the future, illustrating a dual strategy of leveraging external expertise while building in-house solutions. The implications of this partnership could reshape user interactions with AI, particularly in enhancing the responsiveness and functionality of Siri.