Major AI shift: Is Apple next planning to use ChatGPT to power Siri?

Dubai: Apple is reportedly in talks with OpenAI to use its ChatGPT technology in a future version of Siri. The move could mark a major shift in Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy.

Apple currently relies on its own “Apple Foundation Models” to power most of its AI features, including Siri. But Bloomberg reports, citing people familiar with the matter, that executives are now considering whether third-party AI models—like ChatGPT—could offer a better user experience.

According to the report, Apple has asked OpenAI to create a customised version of ChatGPT that can run on its Private Cloud Compute servers—Apple's in-house infrastructure designed for greater user privacy. If adopted, this version of ChatGPT could potentially handle more advanced Siri requests through the cloud.

While Apple already uses ChatGPT for limited tasks—like answering web-based Siri queries and supporting writing tools—the core Siri assistant is still powered by Apple’s internal AI. But that may change as the company looks to catch up with rivals like Google and Samsung, which already use advanced AI models in their devices.

If the shift happens, it would be Apple’s strongest acknowledgment yet that its in-house models may not be competitive enough in the fast-evolving AI space.

Apple’s evaluation of OpenAI’s models is still at an early stage, and no final decision has been made, Bloomberg said. The company is also continuing to develop its internal AI models and could still choose to use them for future Siri versions.

Bloomberg notes that executives overseeing Siri, including software head Craig Federighi, have grown more open to the idea of using external AI providers to accelerate improvements. They believe this could help Apple deliver a smarter Siri experience more quickly.

If Apple finalises an agreement, Siri users could start seeing more advanced AI capabilities powered by ChatGPT as early as next year. For now, both Apple and OpenAI have declined to comment on the discussions.