Apple plans to weave Gemini-powered Siri across its core apps this year

Apple Siri

• Apple to deeply integrate Gemini-powered Siri across core apps by 2026
• Apple scales back in-house AI projects, focusing on Gemini models instead
• Major AI-first Safari redesign and Health initiatives are currently paused

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Since Apple Intelligence launched more than a year ago, the pace of new AI features has been underwhelming. Outside of additions like Apple Music’s AutoMix and the Apple Watch’s Workout Buddy, Apple’s apps have largely remained unchanged. That’s now set to change in 2026, with Apple planning a far deeper overhaul of Siri’s role across iOS.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Apple is preparing to integrate the upcoming Gemini-backed version of Siri “deeply across its core apps,” signalling a shift away from fragmented AI features toward a more unified assistant experience.

Apple scales back its in-house AI ambitions

 For some time, Apple had been pursuing far more ambitious AI projects. One of these was “World Knowledge Answers,” an internal effort designed to rival ChatGPT and Perplexity with Apple’s own large-scale conversational system. According to Gurman, that project has now been scaled back as Apple pivots toward replacing existing technologies with Google’s Gemini models instead.

The retreat doesn’t stop there. Gurman reports that Apple has also paused work on a major AI-first redesign of Safari. That project, which was positioned as a 2026 priority, would have reimagined the browser for the AI era, with features such as assessing the trustworthiness of documents and cross-referencing information across sources to compete with emerging AI-powered browsers. While the work is currently on hold, Gurman notes it could still resurface ahead of WWDC 2026. Apple has also reportedly gone “back to the drawing board” on its AI Health initiatives.

A more cohesive Siri across Apple’s apps

Earlier plans reportedly involved embedding standalone chatbot-style experiences inside individual apps like Safari, TV, Health, Music, and Podcasts. That approach has now changed. Following the departure of John Giannandrea, Apple’s former SVP of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, the company is opting for a more cohesive strategy.

Rather than multiple isolated chatbots, Apple intends to make Siri the central AI layer, deeply integrated across its core apps. While Gurman doesn’t detail exactly how this will work, Apple has previously hinted at this direction through App Intents, which allow Siri to take meaningful actions inside apps. A Gemini-powered Siri could expand that concept significantly, making the assistant far more capable across everyday tasks.

The wait for answers may not be long. Gurman reports that Apple plans to announce the new Siri as soon as next month, setting the stage for what could be the most meaningful evolution of Apple Intelligence so far.