Apple’s Gemini-Powered Siri: The Privacy Puzzle Deepens

Alphabet’s Q4 2025 earnings call has thrown Apple’s Siri privacy claims into question, as Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed Apple will use Google Cloud for the upcoming Gemini-based Siri update.

The Background: A Collaboration Shrouded in Mystery

When Apple officially announced that Google’s Gemini would power new Siri features, the tech world immediately questioned the privacy implications of this partnership. Apple, known for its privacy-first stance, responded with carefully worded statements that left more questions than answers.

Apple’s original statement read: “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”

Currently, Apple’s AI runs either on-device or through Private Cloud Compute (PCC), Apple’s proprietary cloud infrastructure designed to maintain user privacy when data must be processed in the cloud. However, recent developments suggest the Gemini-powered Siri may not follow this privacy model.

The Conflicting Reports

Bloomberg’s January 21 report threw a wrench into Apple’s privacy narrative, stating: “In a potential policy shift for Apple, the two partners are discussing hosting the chatbot directly on Google servers running powerful chips known as TPUs, or tensor processing units. The more immediate Siri update, in contrast, will operate on Apple’s own Private Cloud Compute servers, which rely on high-end Mac chips for processing.”

During Apple’s Q4 2025 earnings call, Tim Cook seemed to reaffirm Apple’s privacy stance when asked about the partnership: “We’ll continue to run on the device, and run in Private Cloud Compute, and maintain our industry-leading privacy standards in doing so.”

However, Cook’s statement may have been referring to Apple’s existing AI features rather than the Gemini-powered Siri specifically.

Sundar Pichai’s Revealing Comments

During Alphabet’s recent earnings call, Sundar Pichai made statements that significantly clarified (or perhaps complicated) the situation:

“We are collaborating with Apple as their preferred cloud provider and to develop the next generation of Apple Foundation Models, based on Gemini technology.”

Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler echoed this sentiment almost verbatim: “I would start by joining Sundar in how pleased I am that we are collaborating with Apple as their preferred cloud provider and to develop the next generation of Apple Foundation Models, based on Gemini technology.”

What This Means for Users

Piecing together these statements reveals several key points:

• Apple’s claim about running on devices and Private Cloud Compute may not apply to the Gemini-powered Siri
• Google’s technology is being positioned as the foundation for “the next generation of Apple Foundation Models,” suggesting a significant shift in Apple’s AI strategy
• Google is officially Apple’s “preferred cloud provider” for this collaboration

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a reliable Apple leaker, doubled down on his reporting, stating that Apple might be distinguishing between Siri and Apple Intelligence as separate systems running on different infrastructures.

The Privacy Question Mark

Neither Apple nor Google has directly addressed where exactly the Gemini-powered Siri will run, leading to speculation that the companies are still working out the technical details. The rollout might be phased, with only certain Siri features initially running on Google’s infrastructure.

This collaboration represents a potential departure from Apple’s long-standing commitment to user privacy. If the Gemini-powered Siri does indeed run on Google’s servers, it would mark a significant shift in how Apple handles user data for its AI features.

What’s Next?

As Apple prepares to officially announce the Gemini-powered Siri, expected to launch with iOS 18.4 in the fall, the tech community is watching closely to see how Apple will address the privacy implications of this partnership. Will Apple maintain its privacy-first stance while leveraging Google’s AI capabilities, or will this collaboration force a reevaluation of Apple’s approach to user data?

The answers to these questions will have significant implications not just for Apple users, but for the broader tech industry’s approach to AI and privacy.

Tags: #Apple #Google #Gemini #Siri #AI #Privacy #CloudComputing #TechNews #iOS #Alphabet #SundarPichai #TimCook #ArtificialIntelligence #DataPrivacy #TechCollaboration

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