Apple and Google have entered into a major long-term agreement to collaborate in the artificial intelligence space, marking a rare partnership between the two tech rivals. Under the deal, Apple’s “Foundation Models,” part of its Apple Intelligence platform, will work with Google’s Gemini AI models by leveraging Google Cloud technology. The collaboration is expected to significantly enhance Apple’s AI capabilities, including making Siri more advanced and responsive. Apple, however, will continue to maintain strict privacy standards, with all data processing confined to its own cloud and devices, and no user data shared with Google.
The partnership has drawn sharp criticism from tech billionaire Elon Musk, who termed the deal unfair and warned that it could further consolidate Google’s dominance in the technology sector. Musk argued that Google already holds a commanding position through Android and the Chrome browser, and that integration with Apple’s Siri and AI tools could make the company virtually unchallengeable. He also claimed the move would adversely affect his platforms X and Grok, and objected to Apple offering ChatGPT as an optional feature within Siri and other AI tools. Accusing Apple of sidelining competitors through its partnerships with OpenAI and now Google, Musk said he has filed a lawsuit, calling the collaboration a broader battle for control over the future AI ecosystem.
Industry observers note that the deal could be timely for Apple, which has faced criticism for trailing rivals in generative AI development. Google, meanwhile, continues to face antitrust scrutiny over its dominance in search, digital advertising, and browser markets. Analysts believe the partnership could help both companies strengthen their AI offerings and improve user-facing features, even as it intensifies debate over competition and regulation in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.