See more of our trusted, verified journalism when you search on Google.
Apple is reportedly preparing one of the most significant Siri upgrades in years, with plans to unveil a Gemini-powered version of its voice assistant at a February event, widely expected to take place in early February 2026. If the reports are accurate, this Siri upgrade could mark a turning point for Apple’s AI strategy, addressing long-standing criticism that Siri has lagged behind rivals such as Google Assistant powered chatbots.
Siri has been a core part of Apple’s ecosystem since its debut in 2011, but in recent years, the assistant has struggled to keep pace with rapid advances in artificial intelligence. While competitors have rolled out conversational, context-aware assistants.
Siri has often been limited to basic tasks and short commands. The upcoming upgrade aims to change that by tapping into Google’s Gemini AI model, which are designed to handle more complex queries, generate richer responses, and better understand natural language.
According to people familiar with the matter, Apple plans to integrate Gemini in a way that complements Siri rather than replaces it. The familiar Siri interface would remain, but behind the scenes, more advanced AI models would power responses when users ask broader or more complex questions.
n simple terms, Google’s Gemini models are Google’s most advanced AI systems, built to understand language, reason through questions, and handle different types of information. For this Siri upgrade, Google is not directly building Siri or taking control of it. Instead, Apple would be using Gemini as a behind-the-scenes engine to help Siri answer harder questions, summarize information, and respond more naturally tasks where users have often relied on third-party apps.
For Apple, this partnership could also help close the gap quickly without having to rely solely on in-house models, which are still being developed. It reflects a more pragmatic approach to AI, similar to how Apple has previously adopted outside technologies while maintaining tight control over user experience and privacy.
Privacy and on-device intelligence
One of the biggest questions surrounding any Siri upgrade at Apple is privacy. Apple has long positioned itself as a privacy-first alternative to other tech giants, and that stance is expected to remain central even as Siri becomes more intelligent. For everyday requests such as setting reminders, sending messages, or controlling smart home devices much of the processing is still likely to happen directly on the device.
For more complex requests, this Siri upgrade may rely on cloud-based Gemini models, but only when additional computing power is required. In simple terms, Apple is expected to decide when Siri needs extra help and when it does not. This hybrid system allows Apple to deliver smarter AI features while still limiting how much data leaves a user’s device, helping maintain its strict privacy standards.
If the February timeline holds, the Gemini-powered Siri could arrive as part of a software update tied to Apple’s next wave of iOS releases. Users may notice improvements in how Siri handles follow-up questions, understands context, and responds to open-ended prompts. Tasks like planning trips, answering detailed questions, or summarizing content could feel faster and more intuitive.
The update may also play a role in Apple’s broader plans for future iPhones, including the expected iPhone 17 lineup, where AI-powered features are rumored to be a major selling point.
Apple’s reported move to bring Gemini into Siri highlights a broader shift underway inside the company. After years of relatively quiet AI development, Apple now appears ready to move faster by combining its own technology with leading external models.
With this Siri upgrade, interactions could become more conversational and informative—similar to the experience users associate with chatbots like ChatGPT—while much of the advanced AI processing is expected to run on Google’s cloud infrastructure. Rather than simply catching up, Apple’s aim is to deliver smarter AI features that feel natural, reliable, and deeply integrated into everyday Apple devices.
While Apple has not officially confirmed the Gemini-powered Siri upgrade, the February timeframe suggests an announcement could come soon. If it does, it may finally give Siri the intelligence boost users have been waiting for—and signal that Apple is serious about competing in the next era of AI-powered assistants.
See more of our trusted, verified journalism when you search on Google.