IT·Science News

Apple rebuilds Siri with Google’s Gemini at WWDC, but not for EU or China users

Apple unveiled a rebuilt assistant it calls Siri AI at its WWDC keynote on Monday 8 June, describing its next-generation Foundation Models as built with Google using Gemini, Nigeria’s TechCabal reports. Apple’s Mike Rockwell called it “the biggest overhaul since Siri launched in 2011”. The new Siri gets its own app, multi-turn conversation, awareness of what is on screen and of personal context, and launches in English first.

TechCabal notes that Apple did not confirm reports by Bloomberg of a roughly $1 billion-a-year deal for a Gemini model. Siri AI will not be available on iPhone or iPad in the EU at launch because of the Digital Markets Act, nor in China. It was also Tim Cook’s last WWDC as chief executive: he steps down on 31 August, and John Ternus takes over on 1 September.

“We believe privacy in AI is non-negotiable.” — Craig Federighi, Apple, via TechCabal

How each outlet framed it

• TechCabal — the politics: the EU and China gaps, with Federighi “deeply disappointed” over Europe, and the CEO handover.
• Digital Trends — the verdict: Siri AI is opt-in, in beta and has a daily usage allowance, but Apple “stopped making promises at WWDC 2026 and started delivering”.
• Tech2 — the update itself: iOS 27 runs on every iPhone that runs iOS 26, with up to 30% faster app launches and up to 80% faster AirDrop, and AI processing via Private Cloud Compute.

What we don't know yet: how much of Siri AI runs on Google’s servers, and when European users will get it.