Apple is seriously considering dumping its own AI technology for Siri and replacing it with models from Anthropic or OpenAI. This would be a massive reversal for a company that's built its reputation on controlling every piece of the user experience.
The iPhone maker has been talking with both companies about using their large language models for Siri and has asked them to train versions that could run on Apple's cloud infrastructure for testing. If Apple moves forward, it would represent a monumental reversal from the company's plan to power most AI features with homegrown technology called Apple Foundation Models.
Key Points:
- Apple is testing custom Claude and ChatGPT builds on its Private Cloud Compute servers.
- Siri already farms out tough web questions to ChatGPT after a 2024 iOS update.
- Apple shares are-20 % YTD as Wall Street waits for a convincing AI plan.
This isn't just about technology. It's about Apple essentially admitting it can't keep up in the most important tech race in decades.
The backstory makes this even more dramatic. Apple originally promised enhanced Siri capabilities in 2024, then delayed them to 2025, and finally pushed them indefinitely to 2026. Some within Apple's AI division believe the features could be scrapped altogether and rebuilt from scratch.
The problems run deep. The project to evaluate external models was started after Siri chief Mike Rockwell and software head Craig Federighi took over from AI chief John Giannandrea, who was sidelined following tepid response to Apple Intelligence. Giannandrea has also lost responsibility for Apple's robotics unit and other AI teams have been shifted away from his control.
Meanwhile, Apple's talent is hemorrhaging. One of Apple's most senior large language model researchers, Tom Gunter, left last week after eight years, and the company nearly lost its entire MLX team responsible for developing machine learning models. Meta is offering engineers $10-40 million annual packages to join its Superintelligence Labs group, while Apple typically pays AI engineers half or less than market rates.
Chris McKay
Apple announced a partnership with OpenAI in June 2024 to integrate ChatGPT into Siri for specific queries, and ChatGPT powers some Apple Intelligence features like Writing Tools. But discussions with Anthropic have reportedly stalled over financial terms, with the AI startup seeking a multibillion-dollar annual fee that increases sharply each year.
If Apple goes through with this, it would follow Samsung's playbook. Samsung brands its features under Galaxy AI but many actually use Google's Gemini models, and Anthropic already powers Amazon's new Alexa+.
For Apple, this represents more than just a technology decision. It's an admission that the company's vaunted ability to build everything in-house has limits. In an industry where AI capabilities increasingly determine product success, Apple may have no choice but to swallow its pride and partner with the leaders.
Whether Apple inks a Claude or ChatGPT deal—or doubles down on its own tech—the decision will signal how much pride the company is willing to swallow to keep Siri relevant. For users, the only question is simple: will the next “Hey Siri” finally feel as smart as the competition?