The alliance between Apple and Google to Gemini becomes the engine of the new Siri This marks a significant shift in Cupertino's artificial intelligence strategy. After several delays, broken promises, and considerable market pressure, Apple has opted to rely on Google's technology to power its assistant and future Apple Intelligence models.
This movement will have a direct impact on millions of iPhone users in Europe and SpainBut it also raises reasonable questions: which models will be compatible, when will the new features arrive, and to what extent will Apple maintain its privacy stance while relying on Google's cloud for some of these advanced functions?
What exactly is Siri with Gemini and why does it matter so much?
After years of internal development, Apple has decided that their next foundational models are based on the Gemini familyGoogle's generative artificial intelligence platform. This doesn't mean that Siri "becomes" a Google product, but rather that AI core that understands language, context, and generates responses It will rely on these models, integrated under the Apple Intelligence label.
In practice, Siri will evolve from a rigid and limited assistant to a much more flexible system, capable of interpret complex requests, chain tasks between applications, and better understand what is happening on the screenApple speaks of its own foundational models, internally called Foundation Models version 10But the technological foundation relies on Gemini and Google's cloud infrastructure.
The company wants to maintain the narrative that everything fits within its ecosystem, hence its insistence on concepts such as Apple Private Intelligence or Private Cloud Compute. Even so, the agreement implies an implicit acknowledgment that Google is clearly ahead in advanced AI models and that Apple has preferred to license that capability rather than continue to be late.
For Google, the move is also key: Gemini will be positioned as the brain of one of the world's most used assistants., with indirect access to a very valuable user segment, that of Apple's high-end devices in Europe and the rest of the world.
Taken together, it is a clear example of “coopetition”: Two historic rivals collaborate to strengthen itself against other competitors in AI and against new players who are pushing very hard in this field.
Compatibility: Which iPhones will be able to use the new Siri with Gemini
One of the points that most interests users is Which devices will be compatible with the new Gemini-based Siri?And here comes the first bad news: Apple is not going to budge on the Apple Intelligence requirements.
The company already made it clear with iOS 18 that Apple Intelligence only works on devices with at least 8 GB of RAMbecause a large part of the AI models run on the device itself. This decision doesn't change with the arrival of Gemini: although for For more advanced tasks, the cloud is used., a significant portion of the intelligence will continue to be processed locally.
That means The new Siri will remain exclusive to iPhones compatible with Apple IntelligenceIn practice, we're talking about recent models like the iPhone 15 Pro and later, including the iPhone 16 family, the upcoming iPhone 17, and the rumored iPhone Air, as long as they meet that minimum memory requirement.
Users with older models or with iPhones with less than 8GB of RAM will be left out of the new experience. They'll have the current Siri, but they won't be able to access the revamped assistant with Gemini.although their devices can run recent versions of iOS.
This policy contrasts with that of other brands that They support much of the AI in the cloud and offer advanced features even on phones with less memory.Apple, however, has opted for this hybrid approach, partly to support its privacy message and partly to clearly differentiate the high-end range from the rest of the catalog.
Calendar: from iOS 26.4 to the great conversational evolution in iOS 27
The deployment plans are already pretty well outlined. The first major version of Siri with Gemini will arrive with iOS 26.4An update is expected between the end of March and the beginning of April 2026, following a testing phase that should start in February.
According to leaks from well-placed sources, such as Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing a special presentation at the end of February to show the media and the public how the new Siri will work. It wouldn't be a large WWDC-style event, but rather a briefing or scaled-down presentation focused almost exclusively on the attendee.
This first iteration of Siri with Gemini will focus on Improve language comprehension, personal context, and interaction with appsLater, the company plans a second, much more ambitious phase linked to iOS 27where the assistant It will practically become a chatbot integrated into the system.
In that next stage, Apple will use a An even more powerful evolution of their models, the Foundation Models version 11internally described as competitive with Gemini 3. The goal is for Siri to be able to Search the web, generate text and images, assist with programming, summarize documents, and analyze filesall with deep integration on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
The idea is that the user doesn't have to open external AI applications: Siri will become the gateway to artificial intelligence within the Apple ecosystemwith access to what is on the screen, system settings and personal data, always within the limits set by the privacy settings.
What will change for the user: key features and improvements
Beyond the technical details, what's relevant for everyday life is How will using an iPhone change in Spain or Europe? when the new Siri with GeminiThe improvements being considered target several specific areas.
On one hand, Siri will be able to perform actions within applications without the need for rigid commandsInstead of memorizing specific phrases, the user will be able to speak more naturally and the assistant will interpret what they want to do: send a file by messaging, schedule a reminder linked to a specific email, or create a note from what is being seen on the screen.
There will also be a significant leap in the understanding of personal contextUsing system data—calendar, emails, messages, location, recent activity history—Siri will be able to offer more tailored answers and suggestions, for example, when organizing the day, prioritizing tasks, or retrieving relevant information without the user having to search for it manually.
Another key piece will be the reading what is happening on the screenThe new Siri will be able to understand the content the user has open at that moment to complete related actions: from writing a summary of an article to extracting data from a document, without the need to copy and paste.
In addition to that, capabilities will be added to automation between applicationswith chained logic. Something as simple as "organize this trip" could be translated into searching for emails with reservations, adding events to the calendar, creating reminders, and grouping the necessary information into a note, all with a single command.
The feeling Apple wants to convey is that Siri will cease to be a reactive assistant and become a proactive agentcapable of understanding the user's intention, not just the literal command. The goal is for the use of voice or natural language to be a truly convenient way to operate the device, and not just a token addition.
Privacy, cloud computing, and Google's role in the Apple ecosystem
One of the most sensitive issues in Europe is privacy. Apple insists that, despite integrating Gemini, It will maintain control over user data through its Private Cloud Compute systemThe promise is that personal information will be processed on their own servers, with encryption, and without the data being stored permanently.
In this model, Part of the AI runs on the iPhone itself.And when more processing power is needed, it's offloaded to Apple's cloud, which in turn relies on Google's technology for the underlying models. The company emphasizes that Google wouldn't have direct access to individual profiles; instead, its technology would be used as an AI service tailored to Apple's requirements.
However, this type of agreement They will not go unnoticed by European regulatorsApple and Google are already under scrutiny from competition authorities for their historic agreement on the default search engine in iOS, and collaboration in artificial intelligence could reignite the debate about the concentration of power in the hands of a few companies.
In this context, Apple will have to demonstrate that It is capable of offering advanced AI features without eroding privacy safeguards. which it sells as a hallmark of its identity. And Google, for its part, reinforces its image as a provider of AI infrastructure for third parties, capable of adapting Gemini to the needs of other tech giants.
For European users, the balance between convenience, power and integrity of personal data This will be one of the aspects that will be most closely monitored when these functions begin to be deployed in the region, inevitably under the focus of frameworks such as the GDPR and the new regulation on artificial intelligence.
A high-voltage agreement that redefines Apple's position in AI
The integration of Gemini into the new Siri is not just a technical change, but a symptom that Apple has had more difficulties than expected to to lead the race in artificial intelligenceThe initial rollout of Apple Intelligence came with delays, missing features, and a feeling that other companies were moving faster.
Internal and external criticism, as well as pressure from investors and users, pushed Apple to rethink your strategyAlternatives such as agreements with other AI providers were explored, but ultimately the company concluded that Gemini offered the most robust and mature platform to accelerate the jump that Siri needed.
This shift comes with Changes in the leadership responsible for artificial intelligence In Cupertino, with new managers in charge of the area and a clear message: the important thing now is to deliver tangible results on the devices that people already have in their pockets.
Although the alliance with Google partially resolves that urgent need, it also leaves one task unfinished: Apple will need to demonstrate that it can differentiate its AI experience.Siri and Apple Intelligence are not simply a pretty layer on top of someone else's technology, but something with its own identity and clear advantages within its ecosystem.
With iOS 26.4 on the horizon and an even more ambitious version of Siri planned for iOS 27, the next couple of years will be crucial in determining whether this joint strategy by Apple and Google succeeds in offering iPhone users in Spain and Europe a truly useful, more conversational assistant deeply integrated into daily life, or whether it remains just another half-hearted attempt in the race for artificial intelligence.
