In a move that marks a major shift in Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, the company is exploring the possibility of using third-party AI models from Anthropic or OpenAI to enhance Siri, its voice assistant, according to a report by Bloomberg News.
This exploration comes after delays in Apple’s in-house AI development and signals the company’s growing urgency to stay competitive in the fast-evolving generative AI space.
Apple Engages in Early Talks with OpenAI and Anthropic
Apple has reportedly entered into discussions with both OpenAI—the creators of ChatGPT—and Anthropic—the developers behind Claude AI—to potentially integrate their large language models (LLMs) into Siri. The idea is to test whether these models can be fine-tuned to run effectively on Apple’s proprietary cloud infrastructure.
According to people familiar with the matter, Apple has asked both companies to train versions of their LLMs that could operate efficiently within Apple’s secure and privacy-focused environment. This could allow Siri to offer more advanced AI-powered features while adhering to Apple’s commitment to data protection and user privacy.
Although no final decision has been made, this represents a significant departure from Apple’s traditional approach of relying exclusively on internally developed technology.
A Major Reversal in Apple’s AI Strategy
Historically, Apple has developed its own AI and machine learning tools in-house. The company has long emphasized tight integration between hardware and software, with a strong emphasis on user privacy. However, the rapid advancement of generative AI technologies by rivals such as Google, Microsoft (partnered with OpenAI), and Meta has left Apple playing catch-up.
Apple’s potential reliance on third-party LLMs—especially from OpenAI and Anthropic—would mark a strategic pivot. Rather than solely investing in internal development, Apple may now embrace a hybrid approach where it supplements its own AI technologies with external models for specific tasks.
Siri’s AI Upgrade Delayed to 2026
In March 2025, Apple quietly confirmed that major upgrades to Siri powered by generative AI would be delayed until 2026. The company didn’t specify the reason at the time, but internal reports later revealed a significant reshuffling of its AI leadership team, which may have contributed to the delay.
According to Bloomberg’s March report, Apple CEO Tim Cook lost confidence in the leadership of AI chief John Giannandrea, who had been overseeing the development of the next-generation Siri experience. Giannandrea had joined Apple in 2018 from Google, where he led machine learning and search.
As a result, Cook reportedly appointed Mike Rockwell—the executive previously responsible for Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset—to lead the company’s AI division and reinvigorate the Siri project.
This executive shakeup signals how high the stakes are for Apple in the current AI race. The delay to 2026 has only increased pressure on the company to find alternative paths to boost Siri’s capabilities in the short term.
Apple’s WWDC 2025: Modest AI Reveal
At its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) earlier this June, Apple revealed a series of AI-powered enhancements across iOS, macOS, and other platforms. However, the company did not unveil any sweeping advancements in generative AI or make Siri the centerpiece of its announcements, as many had anticipated.
Among the more notable features introduced was live translation for phone calls, which uses on-device processing to ensure user privacy. While impressive, the update was seen as incremental compared to the bold AI integrations rolled out by companies like Google (Gemini), Microsoft (Copilot), and Meta (Llama-based AI tools).
Apple software chief Craig Federighi said during WWDC that the company is opening its foundational AI model to developers for integration into apps. He also mentioned that developers would be able to choose between Apple’s own tools and third-party code completion options, such as those from OpenAI, for use in Apple’s Xcode IDE.
This aligns with the broader AI strategy shift now being explored, where Apple would not only offer in-house tools but also open up to select external AI providers like OpenAI or Anthropic.
Stock Market Reaction: Apple Shares Rise
Following Bloomberg’s report on the potential partnership discussions, Apple’s stock price reversed earlier losses and closed up by 2% on Monday. The market response reflects investor optimism that Apple is willing to adapt its strategy to meet growing demand for powerful AI features across devices and services.
Apple’s hesitation to embrace generative AI more aggressively in the past had led to some concerns among analysts and investors, especially as competitors made significant strides. News of the company’s openness to using top-tier third-party models appears to have alleviated some of those concerns.
Anthropic, OpenAI, and Apple Decline Comment
When contacted for comment, Anthropic, which is backed by Amazon, declined to respond. Apple and OpenAI also did not issue any public statements regarding the discussions, according to Reuters.
It’s important to note that Apple’s exploration into using external LLMs is still in the testing and evaluation phase. No contracts or final partnerships have been formalized, and the company could still choose to rely exclusively on its internal models, especially if they catch up in performance.
Why Apple Might Prefer Anthropic or OpenAI
There are several reasons why Apple is considering OpenAI and Anthropic for enhancing Siri:
- Proven capabilities: Both companies have demonstrated industry-leading performance in generative AI. OpenAI’s GPT-4 and Anthropic’s Claude 3 are regarded as among the most advanced LLMs currently available.
- Modularity and integration: These models can be fine-tuned or customized for specific use cases like voice assistants, customer support, or content generation—ideal for embedding in Siri.
- Cloud deployment control: Apple has reportedly requested that both companies train their models to run within Apple’s own cloud infrastructure. This would allow Apple to maintain control over data handling, security, and privacy—hallmarks of its brand identity.
- Catch-up with competitors: Google’s Gemini powers its Pixel phones and AI services, while Microsoft has deeply embedded OpenAI’s tech across its suite of apps. Apple doesn’t want Siri to be left behind.
The Bigger Picture: Apple’s AI Roadmap
Apple’s tentative move toward partnering with external AI providers is a clear sign that the company recognizes the need for flexibility and speed in its AI development roadmap. With the AI arms race heating up, no major tech company can afford to fall behind.
While Apple continues to invest in its own machine learning models and AI infrastructure, it’s becoming increasingly evident that the future of Siri—and Apple’s broader AI ecosystem—may involve a blend of internal and external technologies.
This would allow Apple to deliver advanced, natural-language capabilities in Siri while preserving its hard-earned reputation for privacy and user trust.
What This Means for Siri Users
If Apple proceeds with integrating third-party models into Siri, users could see:
- Much more conversational and intelligent responses
- Better contextual understanding and multitasking
- Improved accuracy and natural language generation
- Custom experiences depending on AI provider and user needs
However, given the current timeline, these upgrades may not reach devices until late 2025 or early 2026.
Apple’s potential collaboration with OpenAI or Anthropic marks a pivotal moment in the company’s history. By opening the door to external AI innovation, Apple could significantly enhance the capabilities of Siri and re-establish its leadership in the AI space. But whether it will finalize such a partnership remains to be seen.
What’s clear is that Apple is no longer going it alone in AI—a notable change for a company that has long preferred to build everything in-house.
The Information is Collected from NYPost and CNBC.
