Apple is planning to open Siri to rival AI assistants including Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude in iOS 27, according to Bloomberg. The move would end OpenAI's exclusive ChatGPT integration with Siri and turn Apple's 1.5 billion active devices into a contested distribution channel for competing AI companies.

How the Extensions System Would Work

Under a new "Extensions" feature, iPhone users would select which AI chatbots integrate with Siri through Settings under Apple Intelligence and Siri. Users with AI apps installed could route questions from Siri to their preferred service. The current model, where Siri exclusively redirects unanswered questions to ChatGPT, would be replaced by a multi-assistant framework.

The system is expected across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. An announcement is anticipated at the WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8.

Apple's Own Chatbot Takes Shape

Apple is also developing its own Siri chatbot, reportedly powered by Google's Gemini models at an estimated cost of $1 billion per year. According to the report, it will use a custom 1.2 trillion-parameter model for Siri's summariser and planner functions, running on Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers for privacy.

The in-house chatbot would function alongside the third-party AI options, not replace them. Apple has been testing these capabilities internally through Veritas, a standalone chatbot app used by employees for typed questions, multi-turn conversations, photo editing, and personal data searching. Apple has stated Veritas will not be released publicly.

What This Means for the AI Distribution Landscape

OpenAI currently holds exclusive access to Apple's Siri distribution pipeline, the single largest voice assistant install base in the world. Opening that channel to Gemini and Claude changes the competitive landscape. Google gains a dual role: it may be powering Apple's own chatbot via Gemini models while also competing as a third-party option. Anthropic would gain direct access to iPhone users without requiring them to download a separate app.

For OpenAI, the loss of exclusivity removes a significant distribution advantage. ChatGPT would remain an option, but on equal footing with competitors rather than as Siri's sole AI fallback.

The Broader Context

Apple has acknowledged that Safari searches have declined as users migrate to AI-powered alternatives, threatening revenue from its Google search deal. The Extensions system positions Apple to retain users within its ecosystem regardless of which AI provider they prefer, while collecting distribution fees or partnership revenue from multiple AI companies rather than relying on a single arrangement.

Elon Musk's xAI has separately sued Apple and OpenAI, seeking Grok availability on iPhones alongside ChatGPT. The Extensions framework would create a mechanism for additional AI providers to participate, though Apple has not confirmed which services beyond Gemini and Claude are under consideration.

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