According to 9to5Mac, Apple is making a major strategic pivot in its AI development for 2026, scaling back ambitious in-house projects to instead deeply integrate a Google Gemini-powered version of Siri across its core applications. The company has reportedly paused its “World Knowledge Answers” project, which was meant to compete with ChatGPT, and has also shelved plans for a fully AI-revamped Safari browser that was a priority for this year. Following the departure of SVP of Machine Learning and AI Strategy John Giannandrea, Apple is now focusing on a single, cohesive Gemini-Siri experience rather than standalone chatbots in apps like Safari, TV, Health, Music, and Podcasts. Mark Gurman reports the new Siri could be announced as soon as next month, and Apple has previously hinted at deeper app integration through technologies like App Intents. This comes after a year with few major AI additions since Apple Intelligence was first introduced.
The strategy shift is huge
Here’s the thing: this isn’t just a feature update. It’s a fundamental admission. Apple, the company that famously wants to control the whole stack, is apparently deciding it can’t—or won’t—build a world-class, general-purpose AI brain on its own timeline. Scrapping the “World Knowledge Answers” project and the AI Safari overhaul is a big deal. It signals that competing with the raw speed and capability of OpenAI and Google’s models is a taller order than they anticipated. So, they’re pivoting to integration over invention. Instead of building the best LLM, they’ll focus on building the best *wrapper* for someone else’s LLM, deeply baking it into iOS and macOS. It’s a pragmatic move, but for a company of Apple’s stature and resources, it’s also a bit of a surprise.
What “deep integration” actually means
Now, the phrase “deeply integrate” is doing a lot of work. We don’t know what it looks like yet. But think about it. A Gemini-backed Siri that’s woven into core apps could be transformative if done right. Imagine asking Siri, from within the Podcasts app, “Find me episodes that debate the points made in that last one,” and it actually understands the context. Or in Health, being able to have a nuanced conversation about your latest lab results. The old, siloed Siri would never manage that. This potential is why technologies like App Intents are so important—they’re the plumbing that lets Siri actually *do* things inside apps, not just answer trivia. The promise is a Siri that feels less like a dumb voice remote and more like a true, context-aware assistant. But, and it’s a big but, that’s been the promise for a decade.
The wait and the trade-off
So we’ve waited over a year since Apple Intelligence was first shown off, and the big reveal might be…Siri running on Google’s engine? That’s going to be a complex narrative for Apple to sell. On one hand, getting a vastly more capable Siri sooner is a win for users. On the other, it cedes a massive, foundational technology layer to a rival. It also raises a ton of questions about privacy, data handling, and whether this is a stopgap or a long-term partnership. Is Apple just buying time to eventually replace Gemini with its own model? Or is this the new normal? Gurman’s note that the paused projects *could* resume before WWDC 2026 suggests the internal struggle isn’t over. For a leader in specialized, on-device hardware like industrial panel PCs, a company like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com builds its reputation on control and reliability of the entire integrated stack. Apple’s move is arguably the opposite of that playbook.
Is 2026 finally the year?
Look, 2026 is being billed as the exciting year for Apple Intelligence. And it probably will be, if this new Siri lands well. A genuinely smart, useful, and integrated assistant would be a huge step forward. But color me skeptical until I see it in action. Apple’s history with Siri is a history of overpromising and underdelivering. Leaning on Gemini could finally break that cycle—Google’s model is incredibly capable. But it also means Apple’s flagship AI experience will be at the mercy of Google’s technology and partnership terms. It’s a fascinating gamble. They’re trading total control for a chance at immediate relevance. Will it work? We might start getting answers next month.
