Apple could be behind several other tech giants in AI, but its intentions and plans are in full swing! In a conversation with CNBC, Apple’s CEO Tim Cook has confirmed that the tech giant is planning to partner with more AI companies in future, beyond the current agreement to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence. With this, Apple’s CEO suggest that the iPhone maker is still planning to release the updated Siri next year. Also Read: 7 Real-Life Uses Of ChatGPT You Haven’t Tried Yet
When asked about expanding partnerships beyond OpenAI, he said Apple’s “intention is to integrate with more people over time.” However, he didn’t share any names yet, but that one line is enough to interpret that there could be more AI giants to partner with soon. Currently, Apple uses a mix of its in-house language models and OpenAI’s ChatGPT to power Apple Intelligence features – like the new Siri, Visual Intelligence, and Writing Tools on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. 
But Apple seems to be quietly setting the stage for a more flexible AI ecosystem. Earlier this year, Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi had already hinted that Google’s Gemini could be added “in the future.” And while that hasn’t happened yet, the company has reportedly started building the technical groundwork to make it possible.
In simpler terms, this means your iPhone might soon be able to talk to multiple AI systems seamlessly – choosing the right one depending on the task. That’s a big step for Apple, which traditionally keeps its ecosystem very closed.
Revamped Siri On The Way
Cook also confirmed that the long-awaited, upgraded Siri will arrive next year. The AI-powered assistant was supposed to get major improvements with iOS 18, but Apple reportedly held it back after realising it needed more time to match competitors like ChatGPT and Gemini.
The new Siri is expected to deliver more natural, human-like responses, handle complex multi-step tasks, and integrate deeply with both Apple and third-party apps. Some reports even suggest that Apple might use external AI models – like Anthropic’s Claude or OpenAI’s GPT – to make Siri more capable.
