iPhone’s Next Upgrade: Siri Could Soon Run on Gemini, Claude, and More
Siri's new 'Extensions' system will let users pick their preferred AI brain for different tasks.
Apple is preparing a major strategic shift for Siri, moving from a walled garden to an open platform. According to a Bloomberg report, the upcoming iOS 18 update will introduce a new 'Extensions' system that allows third-party AI assistants like Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude to integrate directly with Siri. This ends the exclusive partnership with OpenAI's ChatGPT that began with Apple Intelligence in 2024. The system will let users download AI chatbot apps from the App Store and choose which 'brain' handles specific requests, whether for coding, writing, or research.
Internally, the feature is described as letting 'agents from installed apps work with Siri, the Siri app and other features on your devices.' This pivot follows a reportedly tense internal debate, where former AI chief John Giannandrea questioned OpenAI's 'staying power' and favored a Google deal. By creating a standardized plug-in system, Apple bypasses lengthy business negotiations and can immediately offer users more variety. The company is also positioned to take a cut of subscription fees generated through the App Store, impacting its bottom line.
The announcement is expected at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 10. Users will reportedly find a new menu in Settings to manually toggle which AI services Siri can access, and there may be a dedicated App Store section for Siri-compatible AI agents. The news had immediate market impact, with Alphabet Inc. (Google) shares closing down 3.4% at $280.92 on the day of the report, while Apple shares remained steady. This move fundamentally repositions the iPhone as a neutral battleground in the ongoing AI platform wars.
- iOS 18's 'Extensions' system will let users integrate third-party AI models like Gemini and Claude directly into Siri.
- The move ends ChatGPT's exclusive partnership and follows internal debate about OpenAI's 'staying power.'
- Apple expects to unveil the feature at WWDC on June 10, with a new Settings menu for toggling AI services.
Why It Matters
Transforms iPhones into an open AI platform, giving users choice and positioning Apple to profit from the subscription economy.