Apple is reportedly exploring the use of AI models from either OpenAI or Anthropic to power the more capable version of Siri that was initially showcased at WWDC 2024. While Apple has long promised an updated voice assistant that understands personal context and integrates with apps, the official launch of this enhanced Siri was delayed in March 2025.
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As part of this potential new strategy, Apple has approached both Anthropic and OpenAI. The company is asking them to train versions of their respective AI models that can operate on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute, which are secure servers running on custom Apple chips. Apple already uses these servers for certain AI features that are too complex to run directly on devices.
While Apple currently utilizes OpenAI’s ChatGPT for some components of its Apple Intelligence suite, a complete reliance on a third-party company for Siri would mark a significant departure for the tech giant. Bloomberg notes that Apple “currently powers most of its AI features with homegrown technology that it calls Apple Foundation Models” and had planned for a new Siri version based on this internal technology by 2026. Ironically, one of Apple’s few AI announcements at WWDC 2025 was to make these foundation models accessible to third-party developers.
The very consideration of external AI models for Siri reflects recent internal shifts within Apple’s AI leadership. Reports suggest that oversight of the company’s AI teams has transitioned from John Giannandrea, Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering. Separately, Mike Rockwell, who recently led the development of the Apple Vision Pro, is now reportedly heading Apple’s Siri team.
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As Bloomberg points out, an Anthropic or OpenAI-powered Siri would resemble Samsung’s current AI approach. Samsung’s Galaxy AI combines some custom software but primarily leverages Google’s Gemini models. Adopting third-party models wouldn’t prevent Apple from eventually returning to an in-house solution; a similar transition occurred in 2012 when Apple moved from relying on Google Maps to developing its own Apple Maps service, though that particular shift faced early challenges.
Regardless of the decision, the full, updated version of Siri is now not expected to launch until 2026. This fall, Apple will release a more modest collection of AI-adjacent features with the debut of iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS 26.
