Report: Apple does about-face on Siri chatbot — and it might compete directly with ChatGPT and Google (www.techradar.com)

Apple is reportedly pivoting its approach to Siri by developing a new chatbot for iOS 27, reminiscent of AI chatbots like ChatGPT. According to analyst Mark Gurman, this shift marks a significant change in Siri's evolution and may directly position Apple against notable competitors like OpenAI and Google. While Apple initially aimed for a more proactive Siri with an update scheduled for iOS 26.4, which includes enhanced capabilities through Google’s Gemini foundation models, the confirmation of this new chatbot raises questions about its underlying architecture and privacy implications. This move suggests that Apple is not only acknowledging the competitive landscape of AI but is also potentially compromising its long-standing values of user privacy. The integration of Google cloud services for handling Siri's chatbot interactions seems to conflict with Apple's commitment to maintaining a secure processing environment. As the community anticipates Apple's next AI initiatives, the balance between leveraging advanced AI models and protecting user data remains a critical point of analysis. The extent of this collaboration with Google could redefine Apple's approach to AI and challenge its historical reluctance to depend on external technology.