Apple Intelligence first launched in 2024, but it’s increasingly looking like 2026 will be a far more important year for the AI platform. And it all starts with ‘Siri 2.0’ coming this spring.
Google deal isn’t just for Siri, but also ‘the next generation of Apple Foundation Models’
It’s been a big week for Apple Intelligence and Siri news.
The long-rumored partnership between Apple and Google became official. And both the formal statement and subsequent reporting indicates that Siri’s iOS 26.4 relaunch is just the beginning of what’s coming.
To start, Apple and Google’s joint statement Monday showed that the deal is about far more than just Siri.
Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.
Apple isn’t just using Gemini-based models for its new Siri. Instead, Google technology will be at the heart of the “next generation of Apple Foundation Models.”
This represents a major pivot for Apple. And it’s not one that will pay off all at once—not with Siri or other Apple Intelligence features.
iOS 26.4 will kickstart new Siri era, but bigger changes might take longer
As much as we’re all hoping for a radically improved, supercharged Siri to arrive with iOS 26.4, we may need to temper our expectations.
A report from The Information shared the following regarding Siri’s upgrades:
Some of the features will launch this spring. Others, including Siri’s ability to remember past conversations it had with a customer, or proactive features that could suggest they leave home to avoid traffic ahead of an airport pickup that’s listed on their Apple calendar, are expected to be announced at the company’s annual developer conference in June, this person said.
Though Apple originally pitched iOS 18 as ushering the start of “a new era” for Siri, it sounds like this spring is the true start of that new era.
But it’s just a start. More upgrades are expected with iOS 27—not only for Siri, but also Apple Intelligence overall.
Rumors have indicated iOS 27 will pack several major new AI features, such as an AI-powered web search tool, Health-focused AI agent, new visual overhaul and personality for Siri, and more.
With Google supplying the underlying LLMs, Apple engineers will hopefully be able to deliver new features that truly impress.
I’m a fan of several existing Apple Intelligence features, but there’s clearly a lot more that can be done with AI to improve the iPhone, iPad, and Mac experience.
We should get our first glimpse of Siri 2.0 in the iOS 26.4 beta soon. But Apple’s AI pivot means there’s much more coming—it just might take more patience.
How are you feeling about Apple’s AI prospects post-Google deal? Let us know in the comments.
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