Apple has chosen to integrate Google's Gemini series of large language models to enhance its Siri voice assistant.
The two tech giants have announced a multi-year partnership, which was officially revealed this morning. Initial reports from Bloomberg in August suggested the deal involved Apple paying Google approximately $1 billion annually for access to Gemini. Sources indicated Apple sought a bespoke Gemini model with a staggering 1.2 trillion parameters.
Contrary to earlier speculation, today's announcement clarifies that Apple plans to deploy multiple Gemini models, not just one. These models will power a new version of Siri set for release later this year. Apple promises this upgraded assistant will deliver more personalized responses and handle multi-step tasks that span across different applications.
The decision to utilize multiple Gemini models likely stems from cost-efficiency considerations. A common industry practice involves using large, processor-intensive models for complex user queries while routing simpler requests to more lightweight, less hardware-demanding algorithms. This tiered approach helps optimize infrastructure expenses.
The Gemini 3 series, Google's latest LLM offering, comes in various versions with differing performance levels and price points. The most powerful variant, Gemini 3 Pro, is priced four times higher than the entry-level Flash version.
Apple stated it will employ the Gemini series in conjunction with Google's "cloud technology," suggesting potential use of Google Cloud to support portions of the Gemini deployment.
The Siri upgrade powered by these LLMs is part of a broader AI feature suite named Apple Intelligence. Notably, in 2024, Apple partnered with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into this ecosystem. Currently, Siri leverages this chatbot for certain user queries. An Apple spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that today's announcement does not alter its existing agreement with OpenAI.
Apple emphasized that Apple Intelligence will "continue to operate on Apple devices and via Private Cloud Compute." Private Cloud Compute refers to a suite of cybersecurity features launching in 2024. It is designed to delete user data processed for Siri requests after it's no longer needed. Furthermore, the servers running this system lack many standard diagnostic tools common in data centers, a design choice Apple states reduces the risk of cyberattacks.
The partnership news propelled Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., to a market capitalization exceeding $4 trillion, making it the fourth company to achieve this milestone. Apple, NVIDIA, and Microsoft each reached this valuation last year.
