CUPERTINO, CA – Apple today unveiled a revolutionary overhaul of its virtual assistant, Siri, at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). In a move that signals a significant shift in its AI strategy, the company announced that the new Siri will be powered by a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Google Gemini model. This integration represents a deep dive into leveraging third-party AI, a departure from Apple's previous emphasis on proprietary development for core AI functions. The announcement was made during Tim Cook's final WWDC keynote as CEO, before his planned transition to John Ternus in September.
A Reimagined Siri: Conversational, Contextual, and Capable
The redesigned Siri, now referred to as Siri AI, is presented as a profoundly more capable and conversational assistant. It features enhanced personal context understanding, allowing it to access and interpret user emails, messages, files, and calendars to perform tasks with a deeper comprehension of individual needs. A key new capability is on-screen awareness, enabling Siri to understand and act upon visible content on a user's screen. This multimodal capability is also integrated into the iPhone Camera app, allowing users to tap the shutter button to let Siri "see" what they see and provide relevant information or actions.
Users can interact with Siri AI through various methods, including the traditional "Hey Siri" voice command, a new system-wide "Search or Ask" gesture, or by swiping down from the Dynamic Island on compatible iPhones. The assistant will also be accessible via the side button. For iPad and Mac users, Siri AI is integrated into Spotlight, providing answers to a wide range of queries. The new Siri also includes more expressive voices and a significant boost in dictation accuracy, with automatic handling of capitalization, punctuation, and formatting.
An Ecosystem-Wide AI Integration
This enhanced Siri is deeply integrated across Apple's product ecosystem. It will be a core component of Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of AI features. The Extensions System introduced at WWDC will allow users to choose their preferred AI model to power Apple Intelligence features, with ChatGPT, Google Gemini (the default), and Anthropic's Claude being the initial options. This move allows users to select between different AI models for specific tasks, offering unprecedented flexibility.
The new Siri AI leverages spatial computing for Apple Vision Pro users, allowing for 3D visualizations that can be placed anywhere in their space. Users can invoke Siri by simply looking at the visualization and speaking. Across other devices like Apple Watch, CarPlay, and AirPods, Siri AI aims to provide a seamless and consistent experience. Apple Watch users can initiate conversations directly from their wrist, with Smart Stack suggestions appearing to help continue recent interactions.
The operating system updates announced alongside Siri AI include iOS 27, macOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27. iOS 27, described as a "Snow Leopard-style" stability release, will include AI-powered generative photo editing tools such as Extend, Enhance, and Reframe, which operate entirely on-device. Notably, iPhone 11 has been dropped from iOS 27 support, with support beginning for iPhone 12 and later. Apple Intelligence features, however, will require iPhone 15 Pro or newer at launch.
Strategic Partnerships and Future Implications
The licensing of Google's Gemini technology for Siri marks a significant strategic partnership for Apple. Reports suggest Apple is paying approximately $1 billion per year for this integration, highlighting the substantial investment in its AI ambitions. This move also comes after Apple settled a $250 million class-action lawsuit in May 2026 concerning delayed AI features promised at WWDC 2024. The successful delivery of a functional and powerful AI assistant is crucial for Apple's reputation and future product development.
The introduction of an Extensions System, allowing users to select between different AI models, could set a new industry standard for user choice and AI interoperability. This approach contrasts with the more closed AI ecosystems developed by some competitors. The broader implications for the AI market are substantial, potentially intensifying competition among leading AI providers like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic as they vie for integration into popular platforms.
The future of Siri, now deeply intertwined with Google's advanced AI capabilities, suggests a more intelligent and personalized user experience across all Apple devices. This development is poised to redefine user interaction with technology, making virtual assistants more integral to daily life than ever before. Apple's commitment to AI, underscored by this significant partnership, signals a new era of innovation for the tech giant.