January 12, 2026 — Apple and Google announced a multi-year collaboration under which future Apple Foundation Models will be based on Gemini models and cloud technology.
What happened
A joint statement from Apple and Google said the next generation of Apple Foundation Models would be based on Google Gemini models and cloud technology. The companies said the models would support future Apple Intelligence capabilities, including a more personalized Siri. The statement did not disclose commercial terms or detailed technical architecture.
Why it matters
The agreement is strategically important because it combines Apple’s device ecosystem and privacy architecture with Google’s frontier-model infrastructure. It also demonstrates that major consumer platforms may combine in-house engineering with external foundation models instead of building every layer independently.
Security and infrastructure impact
Security and enterprise teams should focus on the eventual data path, retention rules, regional availability and administrative controls rather than assumptions about branding. Until product documentation is available, claims about exact model size, pricing or deployment design should be treated as unverified.