Apple is preparing for a significant advancement in artificial intelligence. Following a record-setting quarter for iPhone sales, CEO Tim Cook hinted that Apple Intelligence—the company’s suite of generative AI features—is poised for substantial improvements. In a conversation with CNBC post-Apple’s Q4 2025 earnings call, Cook indicated that Apple aims to expand its AI partnerships beyond OpenAI, hinting at a more inclusive and integrated future. “Our goal is to expand integration with other AI players over time,” Cook stated, although he did not specify any partners. This suggests that Apple is looking to create a more flexible AI ecosystem by incorporating various large language models to enhance user experiences.
The strong performance of the iPhone 16 lineup has contributed to this hopeful outlook. Apple’s fiscal year concluded successfully, with iPhone sales achieving record highs worldwide. Cook attributed this achievement to the “early traction” of Apple Intelligence features, which have attracted customers back to the Apple ecosystem despite a difficult global market. At present, Apple Intelligence relies on both Apple’s proprietary models and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which together improve Siri’s conversational skills and support features like Visual Intelligence and Writing Tools across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, this collaboration is just the beginning.
Earlier this year, Apple’s Senior Vice President Craig Federighi mentioned plans to integrate additional models such as Google’s Gemini “in the future.” A key anticipated development in Apple’s AI strategy is the support for Model Context Protocol (MCP), originally created by Anthropic, which allows seamless communication between AI models, applications, and tools. Apple is reportedly aiming to incorporate this framework into its platforms to enable secure, cross-model interactions. This could facilitate the creation of more intelligent and privacy-conscious applications that work fluidly within Apple’s AI ecosystem. Nevertheless, the focus remains on the upcoming transformation of Siri. Cook confirmed that the next-generation Siri, enhanced by Apple Intelligence, is expected to launch in 2026.
Initially projected to debut with iOS 18 in 2024, the rollout was postponed as Apple refined its AI systems. The new Siri is anticipated to offer improved contextual understanding, multi-step task execution, and better app integration—areas where it seeks to surpass competitors like Google Assistant and ChatGPT-based bots. Reports suggest that while Apple continues to enhance its in-house AI models, it may also utilize external AI engines from partners such as OpenAI and Anthropic for more complex, multi-application tasks. This could allow Siri to perform advanced actions like scheduling, event planning, and drafting communications with greater fluency. What distinguishes Apple is its commitment to user privacy.
Rather than depending solely on cloud computing, many Apple Intelligence functions are processed on-device, with only high-complexity tasks securely routed to external AI models. This hybrid approach ensures users benefit from advanced AI capabilities while upholding Apple’s strong emphasis on data security and privacy. As 2026 approaches, Apple’s AI strategy seems to be evolving into a harmonious mix of innovation, collaboration, and privacy, positioning it as a key contender in the next wave of intelligent technology.