Apple nears $1 billion-a-year deal to use Google AI for Siri

Apple Inc. is planning to use a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model developed by Alphabet Inc.'s Google to help power its long-promised overhaul of the Siri voice assistant, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

- Bloomberg

Apple is planning to use a 1.2 trillion parameter artificial intelligence model developed by Alphabet's Google.

(AP)

The iPhone maker is banking on Google's help to rebuild Siri's underlying technology, setting the stage for a new slate of features next year. The Google model's 1.2 trillion parameters-a measure of the AI software's complexity-would dwarf the level of Apple's current models.

Apple had previously mulled using other third-party models to handle the task. But after testing Gemini, OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude, Apple zeroed in on Google earlier this year, Bloomberg reported at the time. The hope is to use the technology as an interim solution until Apple's own models are powerful enough.

Following an extensive evaluation period, the two companies are now finalizing an agreement that would see Apple pay roughly $1 billion annually for access to Google's technology, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. The new Siri is on track for next spring, Bloomberg has reported.

Given the launch is still months away, the plans and partnership could still evolve. Apple and Google spokespeople declined to comment.

Shares of both companies briefly jumped to session highs on the news Wednesday.