Is the new Siri powered by Google Gemini?

Partly, and the difference matters. Apple and Google say the models behind Apple Intelligence will be based on Google's Gemini technology. That is not the same as saying that Siri is the Gemini app, or that Google runs Siri. Siri is still Apple's assistant, and the parts of the answer that are open are where the new features run and how they are labeled.

The joint statement names Gemini as the model base

In a joint statement dated January 12, 2026, Apple and Google said the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google's Gemini models and cloud technology ¹. The same statement says those models will help power a more personalized Siri ². The word "powered" refers to the models underneath, not to the Gemini app on your phone.

The statement is a plain description of a deal. It does not describe a change to the Siri app's interface, and it does not name the Gemini app as a replacement for Siri.

Siri AI is the label to watch

On the Mac, Apple's help pages call the new capabilities Siri AI (Beta) ³. Apple's footnote says Siri AI is available in beta in macOS 27 ⁴. A beta is a preview, so the features, the settings and the wording can change before a final release. When you read a claim that Siri is "Gemini," check whether it refers to the model, to the Siri AI feature, or to the Gemini app.

Apple also says Apple Intelligence can work with ChatGPT, when you allow it ⁵. So a request is not always answered by one model. The Gemini link describes the foundation models, and other providers can be involved too.

Where the new Siri runs is still open

Apple says Apple Intelligence will keep running on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute under the Google deal ⁶. That is the company's statement about privacy. Reporting in April 2026 said it was still unclear whether the new Siri and Gemini-powered features would run on Private Cloud Compute or on Google's servers ⁷.

Those two accounts are not necessarily in conflict, but they are not the same thing. Until Apple states the processing location for each feature, treat the answer as unsettled, and check Apple's privacy pages after each release.

It depends on the feature and the device

• On a Mac in the macOS 27 beta. You may see Siri AI, but the features are preview features and may change.
• For dictation. Siri and dictation are separate tools. Apple's Dictation is a different feature from Siri, and the question on whether Siri can take dictation on a Mac explains the difference.
• For privacy-sensitive material. Do not assume where a request is processed. Read the current Apple statement for your device before you share sensitive information.

What to do

1. Read the joint statement and Apple's current Siri and privacy pages, not summaries of them.
2. After you update, check the Siri settings on your device, since a beta feature may not be on by default.
3. If you need to know where a feature runs, look for the processing location in Apple's own documentation for that feature, and treat news reports as a lead to check.

For the broader comparison, read the guide to voice assistants versus dictation. The question on what Alexa+ can do covers the competing assistant, and the question on which AI voice assistant is smartest explains why a single ranking is not reliable.

Terms: Siri is Apple's voice assistant, and a large language model is the kind of model that generates answers. For the wider subject, see our overview of speech to text and AI.