Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed in court testimony that the company hopes to strike a deal with Apple by mid-2025 to bring its Gemini AI technology to Apple Intelligence.
During a federal antitrust trial on April 29, Pichai said Google is in discussions with Apple to integrate Gemini into Apple Intelligence, the AI system expected to power upcoming versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The testimony was first reported by Reuters.
Gemini is Google’s family of AI models, developed by Alphabet’s DeepMind unit. It includes Gemini Nano, optimized for mobile devices, and Gemini Ultra for high-performance computing. The system is capable of summarizing content, generating code, and performing complex language tasks.
Compared to Apple’s current on-device models, Gemini promises broader reasoning and more fluid interactions in both text and voice, though the extent of any integration remains unclear.
What Gemini AI could do for iPhone users
For iPhone users, Gemini could enable smarter everyday experiences. A Gemini-enhanced Siri might respond with more context, maintain more natural conversations, and offer suggestions based on user behavior.
That might include suggesting calendar changes based on incoming emails or summarizing documents on command.
However, Apple is unlikely to give Google deep system access. The company is known for tightly controlling privacy-sensitive features like Mail, Calendar, and on-device automation. While ChatGPT is available on the App Store, it operates in a sandbox and can’t tap into core system services.
Gemini, if approved, would likely face similar restrictions. Any integration would need to be opt-in and privacy-focused, consistent with Apple’s current approach to third-party AI.
Apple’s current AI system, Apple Intelligence, combines internal models with access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT for certain tasks. That includes fallback support in Siri and writing assistance tools. Pichai said he personally discussed Gemini’s potential with Apple CEO Tim Cook in multiple meetings throughout 2024.
A deal with Google could accelerate Apple’s AI roadmap, delivering immediate capabilities while it continues developing its own technology. For Google, embedding Gemini into iPhones would dramatically expand the reach of its AI tools.
Competitive and regulatory pressures
The potential partnership comes amid a broader industry push toward generative AI. Microsoft has embedded OpenAI’s models across Windows and its Copilot platform. Samsung is adding AI features to its Galaxy lineup.
Apple risks falling behind
Regulators are also paying close attention. The U.S. Department of Justice has already scrutinized past Apple-Google agreements, including Google’s role as the default search engine on iPhones.
A new deal involving Gemini could trigger further antitrust review.
Apple has built its brand around user privacy, so any agreement with Google is likely to face public scrutiny. Users may question how much data Gemini requires, whether it operates locally or in the cloud, and how Apple will maintain control over sensitive user data.
In its OpenAI partnership, Apple routes requests through its own servers, strips identifiers, and prevents logged data from being used to train models. ChatGPT is limited to answering questions and helping with writing, not controlling system features.
A Gemini partnership would likely follow similar rules.
The road ahead
It’s not yet known which Gemini models Apple might adopt. Gemini Nano seems suited for on-device tasks, while Gemini Pro could offer more powerful cloud-based functions.
If finalized, the partnership could be announced during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins the week of June 9, 2025. That’s when Apple is expected to unveil iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and the next version of macOS.
Gemini-powered features may debut in late 2025, potentially alongside the iPhone 17. For Apple, it could be the fastest way to narrow the AI gap with rivals — directly benefiting millions of iPhone users.
