oogle’s Cloud Next event in Las Vegas had fake snow, vibe-coded music, and flashy visuals. Yet, none of it drew my attention more than an Apple logo.
On Wednesday, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian kicked off the opening keynote with a run-through of Google’s latest and greatest highlights, which, of course, featured a lot of AI. When discussing its latest AI models, Kurian noted that their true value is unleashed when “operationalized” to solve mission-critical problems, citing its deal with Apple as a prime example.
“We are collaborating with Apple as their preferred cloud provider to develop the next generation of Apple foundation models based on Gemini technology,” said Kurian. “These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming late this year.”
The new Siri would finally deliver on the long-standing promise of drawing on users' personal data, such as messages, notes, and emails, to better understand context, offer more useful assistance, hold more natural conversations, and take action directly within apps.
Bloomberg’s Apple watcher, Mark Gurman, also reported that Siri would have a new look and a chatbot-like interface. Gurman reported earlier this week that the WWDC 26 teaser is showing off what Siri’s new look will be. The company is currently testing a Siri interface that sits in the Dynamic Island and expands and glows when triggered, similar to how the "26" is highlighted in the WWDC teaser.
While the Gemini-Siri news was announced in January, this marks the first time it has been featured at a big event, and likely the first of many mentions from both companies in the months ahead. On May 19-20, Google will hold its annual developer conference, Google I/O, where we may get a sneak peek at what's to come. Then, on June 8, Apple takes the stage at WWDC, where the launch of iOS 27, including the new unveiling of the new Siri, is widely expected.
Following Apple’s typical announcement cycle, even if the new Siri is finally unveiled in June, users won’t be able to access it until the fall, with the public release of iOS 27 and the new iPhone lineup. Of course, The Deep View will thoroughly cover both events to bring you all the latest.
Our Deeper View
Apple and Google have been fierce competitors in recent years, vying to capture the same audience in the smartphone market and striving to draw users deeper into their respective ecosystems. The most visible example has been the infamous green-versus-blue bubble divide. However, collaboration between the two companies on AI is mutually beneficial. Apple needs help with foundation models while Google needs to fend off upstart rivals OpenAI and Anthropic. If the two companies can deliver the best possible AI experiences across their ecosystems, they have an opportunity to bring these features to a much broader audience that uses AI today.
Disclosure: Sabrina Ortiz's travel to Google Cloud Next was paid by Google. The Deep View's coverage is editorially independent from the companies we cover.