At WWDC 2026, Apple announced the biggest overhaul of Siri since it launched in 2011. The new Siri runs on a custom 1.2-trillion-parameter Gemini model licensed from Google in a deal reportedly worth around $1 billion per year. For the first time, Siri gets a full conversational chat interface similar to ChatGPT and Claude.
What’s actually new in Siri
The redesigned Siri brings several changes that move it from a voice command tool to a genuine AI assistant:
- Chat-style interface: A standalone Siri app where you can type or talk in a conversation thread, just like ChatGPT or Claude.
- System-wide ‘Search or Ask’ gesture: One gesture from anywhere on your iPhone opens Siri, ready to either search the web or answer a question directly.
- Dynamic Island integration: On iPhone 16 and newer, Siri responses and ongoing tasks appear in the Dynamic Island without taking over your screen.
- Personal context awareness: With permission, Siri can reference your emails, photos, messages, calendar, and files to answer questions like “when is my flight” or “find the invoice Sarah sent me last week.”
- On-screen awareness: Siri can see what’s currently on your screen and act on it — for example, summarizing an article you’re reading or replying to a message you have open.
- Deeper cross-app actions: Siri can now chain actions across apps, such as booking a restaurant from a text conversation and adding it to your calendar in one step.
Why Apple chose Gemini
Apple’s own large language model efforts (internally known as “Apple Intelligence” foundation models) reportedly weren’t competitive enough for a full Siri rebuild on Apple’s timeline. Licensing a custom-tuned 1.2T parameter Gemini model from Google lets Apple ship a frontier-level assistant now, while it continues developing its own models in the background.
How it compares to ChatGPT and Google Assistant
Functionally, the new Siri sits between ChatGPT (as a standalone assistant app) and Google Assistant (as a deeply OS-integrated tool). Siri’s advantage is the personal context access — emails, photos, messages, and files — combined with on-screen awareness, which neither ChatGPT’s mobile app nor the standard Google Assistant offers at this depth on iPhone.
What this means for you
If you have an iPhone 16 or newer, expect the new Siri to roll out as part of an iOS update later this year. Practical tips:
- Review the privacy permissions Siri requests for emails, photos, and messages before granting full access — you can grant access app-by-app.
- Try the new “Search or Ask” gesture for quick questions instead of opening a separate AI app.
- If you already use ChatGPT or Claude for complex tasks, you likely don’t need to switch — but Siri becomes a much stronger option for quick, context-aware tasks tied to your own data.
FAQ
Do I need a Gemini account to use the new Siri?
No. The Gemini model is licensed and integrated by Apple — you use it entirely through Siri with your existing Apple ID.
Will the new Siri work on older iPhones?
Dynamic Island features require iPhone 14 Pro or newer, but the core chat interface and personal context features are expected to extend to a broader range of devices that support Apple Intelligence.
Bottom line: Siri is becoming a true AI assistant powered by Gemini, with the biggest upgrade being its ability to understand your personal context and act across apps.