Google Cloud CEO Reveals Gemini-Backed Siri Overhaul Coming This Year

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian just confirmed what Apple fans have been whispering about for months: Google’s Gemini AI is moving into the iPhone. 

Standing in front of a massive Apple logo during the opening keynote of Google Cloud Next ’26 in Las Vegas, Kurian made clear that the rivalry between the two tech giants is taking a backseat to progress.

“Earlier this year, we announced a monumental partnership with one of the world’s most iconic brands that will bring the power of our technology to users everywhere around the world,” Kurian said, confirming that Google is now Apple’s “preferred cloud provider” for this massive undertaking.

Siri has struggled to keep up with the conversational flow of modern chatbots for years. This partnership aims to fix that. According to Kurian, the collaboration involves building the next generation of Apple Foundation Models using Google’s Gemini technology.

“These models will help power future Apple intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming later this year,” Kurian promised. This means Siri should soon be able to handle complex follow-up questions, understand better context, and pull information across different apps without breaking a sweat.

When will it land on your iPhone?

While Apple has been quiet on specific dates, the industry consensus points toward a massive software rollout this autumn. The upgraded features are expected to be the centerpiece of iOS 27. 

The tech community expects a first look at the new Siri during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which kicks off on June 8, 2026. If the rumors hold, the update could include a standalone Siri app, persistent chat logs so you can see your history, and the ability to follow multiple instructions from a single voice command.

The agentic era at Google

The Apple news was just one slice of a much larger pie. Google CEO Sundar Pichai also took the stage to announce that we have entered the agentic era, where AI doesn’t just answer questions but performs complex tasks autonomously.

Pichai revealed just how much Google is betting on this future, noting that the company plans to invest between $175 billion and $185 billion in total capital expenditure this year alone. He also highlighted how AI is already changing things internally at Google, stating that “nearly 75% of all new code at Google is AI generated and approved by engineers.”

This partnership is a rare moment of co-opetition. While Google and Apple still compete for your pocketbook, the sheer scale of the AI race has forced them to work together.

Read our recent coverage of Apple’s announcement about the upcoming leadership transition.