Report: Apple Asks Google to Run Siri on Its Servers

[MacRumors]

Apple has asked Google to investigate setting up servers in its data centers to run a future version of Siri powered by Gemini, The Information reports.

Currently, Apple sends its more complex AI queries to Private Cloud Compute, a system that runs on Apple servers using Apple silicon chips. Today, only 10% of Apple's Private Cloud Compute capacity is said to be in use on average. The usage is low enough that some servers intended for Apple's AI cloud system are still in warehouses and have not yet been installed. This could change rapidly upon the launch of the next-generation version of Siri, which could spike Apple's demands for cloud computing.

Apple has reportedly suffered from a cultural reluctance to bolster its cloud infrastructure for years, leading to the departure of some key cloud experts from the company, such as Patrick Gates. Gates pioneered the idea of bringing Apple chips to data centers, which later formed the basis of Private Cloud Compute. The company still strongly focuses on hardware devices and consumer features rather than their supporting cloud technologies, despite the growth of services, resulting in a neglect of the need for additional capacity.

At the time Apple realized it needed to use the cloud to support its AI efforts, its internal AI infrastructure was "beginning to decay." The company was amid the process of decommissioning old Nvidia-powered servers. Combined with financial pressure, this led the company to increasingly turn to third-party providers like Amazon.

For years, Apple banned its AI engineers from Google's cloud technologies because of privacy concerns. Apple software chief Craig Federighi repeatedly vetoed Google Cloud as an option for its AI computing requirements. In 2023, Google made changes to its security systems that satisfied Apple's privacy concerns. Apple then started to adopt Google's cloud infrastructure for artificial intelligence.

The issue has been exacerbated by problems with Private Cloud Compute, which takes longer to update than other servers. Moreover, the chips currently used in Private Cloud Compute servers were designed for consumer devices and are not optimized for AI workflows, meaning that they are not well equipped to run large models like Gemini.

Apple now wants to be prepared for a potential surge in AI use on its devices when the more powerful, Gemini-based version of Siri debuts later this year, motivating the request for Google to run Siri directly on its servers. See The Information's full report for more.


Article Link: Report: Apple Asks Google to Run Siri on Its Servers

 

[MacUserFella]

So much for “Privacy. That’s iPhone.”

 

[Dave245]

So Siri is going to be Gemini renamed? At this point why not just buy a Pixel then and use Gemini.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

First thought was this doesn't sound good for privacy.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

So Siri is going to be Gemini renamed? At this point why not just buy a Pixel then and use Gemini.

Because some people (myself included) prefer iOS to Android.

 

[hieranonymous]

So Siri is going to be Gemini renamed? At this point why not just buy a Pixel then and use Gemini.

Siri has never been the reason anyone does or does not purchase an iPhone.

 

[turbo79]

Gemini is just enterprise software. Apple installing Google Gemini on their cloud is the same as your company installing Microsoft Exchange on their internal servers. Doesn't mean all the data is going to Google.

 

[Mr_Ed]

Currently, Apple sends its more complex AI queries to Private Cloud Compute, a system that runs on Apple servers using Apple silicon chips.

Does anyone know what constitutes a “more complex AI query” and does that include requests that should be achievable with data already on your device?

 

[hieranonymous]

Not sure how many more ways Apple can get caught with its pants down when it comes to Siri. It’s kind of morbidly fitting that Steve Jobs passed away the day after Apple announced the first Siri-enabled iPhone in 2011.

 

[Ursadorable]

Apple has reportedly suffered from a cultural reluctance to bolster its cloud infrastructure for years, leading to the departure of some key cloud experts from the company

Cultural reluctance? Sounds more like leadership issues.

 

[shadowself]

So, Apple's much vaunted, "You are not the product!", is no longer a reality. Google has many, many times shown that they consider their customers their primary product as sales to advertisers has always been, and still is, their primary source of revenue.

While I've been a user of Apple hardware since the late 70s, I'm becoming less likely to stick with Apple going forward.

 

[Win$ton l]

I usw the Gemini app on my iPhone. No need to add it to Siri

 

[Dave245]

Siri has never been the reason anyone does or does not purchase an iPhone.

That may be true, but Siri is a joke compared to Gemini and now Apple are going to basically use Gemini to power Siri, so any Ai features that come out of it will be as a result of Gemini.

Because some people (myself included) prefer iOS to Android.

Now Android vs IOS is a separate issue, even tho I'm an iPhone user as well, I can clearly see the problems IOS has had over the last few years. It is not as reliable or as good as it use to be. The whole Liquid Glass is a joke.

 

[Tim Jobs the 2nd]

I usw the Gemini app on my iPhone. No need to add it to Siri

I also use the Gemini app currently and I would prefer it baked in.

Now we have both our opinions out there.

 

[MacMan988]

When we are finally convinced to settle for less in exchange of privacy protection, and then apple decides to run services in google servers 😂

 

[Schtibbie]

WHICH COMPANY data centers? “Their’s”? Which company is that? Google or Apple? English is super imprecise in this article.

 

[MacMan988]

So Siri is going to be Gemini renamed? At this point why not just buy a Pixel then and use Gemini.

Fear is Apple's main tool when it comes to marketing

 

[bigboy29]

Very predictable to see complete lack of understanding of how SaaS works. Do people saying that this is the proof that Apple does not care about privacy know that today, your iCloud backup might already be stored in Google cloud?

There are absolutely ways where one company can store their customer data in another company's data center and that hosting company does not automatically "get access to user private information".

This is a solved problem.

 

[eifelbube]

Looks like Apple trusts Google. Many/most of us don’t. Can we (still) trust Apple?

 

[Win$ton l]

WHICH COMPANY data centers? “Their’s”? Which company is that? Google or Apple? English is super imprecise in this article.

Does it matter? Will you leave Apple if it runs on Google data centers?

 

[ericthered926]

Google can't even keep their own gemini servers up and running properly

 

[turbo79]

That may be true, but Siri is a joke compared to Gemini and now Apple are going to basically use Gemini to power Siri, so any Ai features that come out of it will be as a result of Gemini.

Apple already have connectors to other AI companies for Siri. I have my OpenAI account enabled for Siri, and if I ask What's the population of Bulawayo? I get a response back from ChatGPT through Siri. Works well.

I imagine their Gemini integration will just be tighter and more transparent. Google just make the car, Apple will be driving it.

 

[Schtibbie]

Does it matter? Will you leave Apple if it runs on Google data centers?

No but can we use language correctly so an article actually makes sense?

 

[rp2011]

Yeah, the Apple Silicon guys who formed Nuvia, who later sold to Qualcomm wanted to build Apple Silicon servers, when told “NO”. They left Apple. At the time I mentioned this would bite them in the ass and it surely has.
1. Top Apple Silicon talent went to the competition. 2. Myopia and short sightedness set them back about a decade. It was obvious it would bite them.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

Or I just keep using Gemini on my iPhone since Siri can't control all my devices since I won't pay Apple tax for all of them. Also, the ones she CAN control she does so poorly it's not worth it when Gemini runs it all 100%. I am even slowly switching over to Gemini for the one last thing I used Siri for. Music playback. Gemini works with Apple Music.