Apple has confirmed a multi-year partnership with Google that will see the iPhone maker use Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence models and cloud technology to underpin future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalised version of Siri due to arrive later this year.

The agreement, first reported by CNBC and later confirmed by both companies, allows Apple to draw on Google’s AI capabilities while continuing to run most processing directly on its own devices or through its Private Cloud Compute system. Apple and Google said this approach would preserve Apple’s privacy standards while enabling more advanced AI-driven experiences.

Under the deal, Apple plans to use a customised version of Google Gemini to support features within Apple Intelligence. These are expected to include a revamped Siri capable of taking actions on a user’s behalf and responding with a deeper understanding of personal context. Apple has been working on the Siri upgrade for more than a year but delayed its release in March after admitting the technology was taking longer to refine than expected.

Bloomberg previously reported that Apple had explored several options for strengthening its AI stack, including potential collaborations with OpenAI, Anthropic and Perplexity. Chief executive Tim Cook has indicated the company intends to integrate with multiple AI providers over time rather than rely on a single partner.

Google launched its Gemini 3 AI model in November, with the system performing strongly on industry benchmarks. Apple had reportedly considered using Gemini to deliver features such as AI-generated summaries and web-based knowledge responses within Siri, an area where the assistant has historically lagged behind competitors.

Financial terms of the partnership have not been officially disclosed, but Bloomberg reported last year that Apple was expected to pay Google around US$1 billion annually, which equates to roughly $A1.5 billion. Following confirmation of the deal, Alphabet shares rose as much as 1.7 per cent, while Apple shares edged up by less than 1 per cent.

The partnership comes amid internal changes at Apple’s AI division. According to Bloomberg, Apple reshuffled its leadership after setbacks with Siri, replacing long-time AI chief John Giannandrea with Vision Pro head Mike Rockwell. Giannandrea stepped down from the role last month as Apple sought to accelerate progress on its AI ambitions.

Both companies said the collaboration would help unlock new experiences for Apple users while maintaining strict privacy protections. For Apple, the deal signals a pragmatic shift towards leveraging external AI expertise as it races to catch up in a rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape.