Apple-Google Partnership Could Bring AI-Powered Web Search to Upgraded Siri and iPhone Software

Apple is reportedly considering an overhaul for Siri that could incorporate a web search tool powered by artificial intelligence, potentially utilizing technology from Google’s Gemini project. The tech giant, which has faced criticism for lagging in the AI race, has postponed the release of its significant Siri update until 2026.

In the interim, Apple is examining whether its own AI models are sufficient to make the updated Siri competitive with AI answer engines from companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, and Google. According to a recent report by Bloomberg, Apple may be turning to Google for a solution to these issues. The agreement between the two tech giants, announced this week, will see Apple testing a Google AI model within Siri. If successful, the technology could also be integrated into other aspects of iPhone software, such as the Safari browser and Spotlight search on the Home Screen.

Previously, Spotlight appeared to be gearing up to challenge Google as it enabled iPhone users to access basic information about popular topics without resorting to web searches, covering details about actors, musicians, TV shows, and movies, among other things. However, with the advent of AI chatbots, consumers can now quickly source answers to a broader spectrum of topics that extend beyond Wikipedia’s scope.

The report suggests that the enhanced search experience will feature a combination of text, images, videos, and local points of interest, along with an AI-driven summarization tool. It will also have the capability to leverage user data and enable navigation through devices via voice commands.