Apple just reset its entire AI strategy at WWDC 2026. In a keynote on June 8, the company rebranded Siri as Siri AI, built it on a new generation of Apple Foundation Models developed with Google Gemini, shipped iOS 27 and macOS 27 “Golden Gate,” and, in the move that matters most for you, opened a new Extensions framework that lets you set Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok as the default AI across the system. It was also Tim Cook’s final keynote as CEO before John Ternus takes over on September 1, capping it as the biggest AI shift in Apple’s history.
The headlines have focused on Siri and the Google deal, but the real story for anyone who lives on a Mac or iPhone is choice. For the first time, Apple is letting you pick which AI answers your questions, writes your text, and generates your images. This recap covers everything Apple announced, what the Gemini partnership actually means, and how to think about your AI setup now that the walls are coming down.
The Key Takeaways
- Siri AI is a full redesign, built on Apple Foundation Models developed with Google Gemini under a multi-year deal reported to be worth roughly $1 billion per year.
- iOS 27 Extensions let you set Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok as your default AI across Siri, Writing Tools, and Image Playground.
- New software ships as iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 “Golden Gate,” with developer betas now, public betas in July, and full launch in Fall 2026.
- The default-AI marketplace does not arrive until Fall; a multi-model app like Fello AI already runs Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek in one place today.
- iOS 27 supports every iPhone that runs iOS 26, from the iPhone 11 onward, making it Apple’s most widely supported release yet.
Everything Apple Announced at WWDC 2026
Apple packed the keynote, but six announcements carry the weight, as TechCrunch’s full rundown laid out. Siri became Siri AI, a redesigned assistant built on Google Gemini. The new Extensions framework opened Apple Intelligence to third-party models. The operating systems were renamed iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 “Golden Gate.” Apple Intelligence gained new generative photo tools. The Photos app picked up Clean Up, Extend, and Spatial Reframe. And child-safety controls expanded across Safari and Apple accounts.
Everything sits on Apple’s foundation models plus the Google partnership, tied together by what Craig Federighi described as a new orchestration layer that coordinates AI tasks across your apps. The rollout follows Apple’s usual cadence, with developer betas starting this week and a public launch in the fall.
The Big One: You Can Now Choose Your Default AI
Buried under the Siri headlines is the announcement that changes the most for everyday users. iOS 27 Extensions is a framework, backed by a dedicated App Store marketplace, that lets you choose which AI provider powers Apple Intelligence. Instead of being locked to whatever Apple ships, you will be able to set Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok as the default for Siri requests, Writing Tools, and Image Playground.
The control lives in Settings, the same way you already pick a default browser or mail app. Ask Siri a hard question and it can route to your chosen model; highlight text and Writing Tools can rewrite it with the AI you trust most. This is the clearest sign yet that Apple sees AI as a layer you should be able to swap, not a single assistant baked in.
There is a catch worth stating plainly. Extensions does not ship until the Fall 2026 launch, with a public beta arriving in July. So while the door is open, you cannot walk through it on your iPhone or Mac today. If you want multiple models right now, you need a separate app, which is exactly the gap a tool like Fello AI fills.
Siri AI: What Actually Changed
Apple rebuilt Siri from the ground up and renamed it Siri AI. The assistant now holds multi-turn conversations, draws on real-time world knowledge, and reads on-screen context so it can act on what you are looking at. It can create reminders from an ongoing conversation and pull personal information across your apps when you ask.
The interface changed too. Siri AI now lives in the Dynamic Island, accessible by swiping down from it, pressing the side button, or saying “Hey Siri.” A revamped voice engine makes it sound more expressive, and a new standalone Siri app stores your conversation history, synced through iCloud so sessions follow you between devices. If you have wondered whether Siri is really AI, this is the year the answer stops being complicated.
On the Mac, Siri AI reaches into Spotlight and shows up in right-click menus on any file or window, so you can summarize, rewrite, or ask about something without leaving your workflow. On Vision Pro, it gains a 3D visualization you can place anywhere in your space.
The Google Gemini Deal
The most surprising reveal was the engine. On stage, Apple said it collaborated with Google and the Gemini family of models to build the next generation of Apple Foundation Models that power Siri AI. Reporting goes further, describing a custom Google Gemini model running the assistant rather than Apple’s own large models or OpenAI’s. According to Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management, the multi-year agreement is worth roughly $1 billion per year, with a total value estimated up to $5 billion. AI analyst Kim Isenberg reported the custom model carries about 1.2 trillion parameters, far larger than Apple’s existing cloud models.
The model reportedly uses a mixture-of-experts design, which activates only part of its parameters per query to keep costs in check. Apple’s on-device models still handle quick, private requests; harder queries route to the larger Google model inside Private Cloud Compute. Apple framed privacy as a hard line, saying queries are processed without being retained and that the contract bars Google from training future Gemini versions on Apple user data.
It is a notable pivot. Apple already ships ChatGPT integration, and the new Gemini deal sits alongside an Extensions system that welcomes every major model. If you are weighing the models themselves, our breakdown of Gemini 3.5 and our Anthropic vs OpenAI comparison cover how the frontier labs stack up.
iOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and Apple Intelligence
The operating systems got new numbers and, for the Mac, a new name. macOS 27 “Golden Gate” focuses on performance and a design refresh, adjusting the Liquid Glass look introduced last year with a global opacity slider and updated window shapes. Apple said it improved macOS performance and dozens of underlying technologies, with a wide release expected in September.
Apple Intelligence picked up the most visible upgrades. Image Playground can now generate images in nearly any style, including far more realistic ones, at almost any size, and it spans more apps. The Photos app added three generative tools, with Clean Up removing distractions, Extend widening a shot and changing its aspect ratio, and Spatial Reframe letting you pan around an image and fill the gaps using on-device spatial models. The Home app also got smarter security-camera notifications.
There is good news on hardware too. iOS 27 runs on every iPhone that supports iOS 26, going back to the iPhone 11, which makes it the most widely supported iOS release Apple has shipped. Child-safety controls expanded as well, with an “Ask to Browse” prompt turned on by default for users under 13.
Siri AI vs Old Siri vs a Multi-Model App
Apple closed a big gap this year, but the new system is still one assistant at a time until you start swapping providers. Here is how the old Siri, the new Siri AI, and a dedicated multi-model app compare for someone who wants real choice today.
| Feature | Old Siri | Siri AI (2026) | Fello AI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Underlying model | Narrow, rule-based | Custom Google Gemini | Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek |
| Switch between models | No | One default via Extensions | Yes, anytime in one app |
| Available now | Yes | Fall 2026 | Yes |
| Platform | Apple devices | Apple devices | Mac and iOS |
| Multi-turn chat | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Image generation | No | Image Playground | Yes, across models |
| Price | Free | Free, with paid model tiers | $9.99/month, all models |
The point is not that Apple got it wrong. Siri AI is a real upgrade. But Apple’s model choice arrives one provider at a time and not until the fall.
How to Get Every AI Model on Your Mac Today
If WWDC convinced you that the future is multi-model, you do not have to wait for Extensions to ship. Fello AI is a native Mac and iOS app that runs Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek behind a single subscription, so you can send the same question to several models and compare answers in seconds.
That flexibility matters because no single model wins everything. You might lean on one model for careful writing, another for coding, and a third for fast research, and switching is a click rather than a separate app and a separate bill. For $9.99 a month you get the major models, image generation, and regular updates as new versions land, without juggling five logins. You can start from the Fello AI App Store page or the getting started guide, and if you are comparing options, our roundup of the best AI models is a good next read.
Conclusion
WWDC 2026 was Apple’s clearest statement yet that AI on the iPhone and Mac is about choice, not a single assistant. Siri AI on Gemini is a genuine leap, and the Extensions marketplace will eventually let you run the model you prefer. Until that lands in the fall, the fastest way to put Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek in one place is a multi-model app like Fello AI. Watch for the public beta in July, and decide which AI you want answering when the switch finally flips.
FAQ
What did Apple announce at WWDC 2026?
Apple announced Siri AI, a redesigned assistant running on a custom Google Gemini model; an Extensions framework that lets you set Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok as your default AI; iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 “Golden Gate”; new Apple Intelligence photo tools; and expanded child-safety controls.
Is Siri AI now?
Yes. Apple rebranded the assistant as Siri AI and rebuilt it on a custom Google Gemini model, adding multi-turn conversation, on-screen awareness, a Dynamic Island interface, and a standalone app with synced history.
Can I set ChatGPT or Claude as my default AI on iPhone?
You will be able to once iOS 27 ships. The new Extensions framework lets you choose Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok as the default for Siri, Writing Tools, and Image Playground. It arrives in public beta in July and launches in Fall 2026.
How much is Apple paying Google for Gemini?
Apple has not confirmed a figure. Analyst Gene Munster of Deepwater Asset Management estimated the multi-year deal at roughly $1 billion per year, with a total value up to $5 billion.
When do iOS 27 and macOS 27 come out?
Developer betas started during WWDC week, public betas arrive in July, and the full release lands in Fall 2026, alongside the new iPhone lineup.
Where can I watch WWDC 2026?
The full WWDC 2026 video is available on Apple’s website and official youtube channel.
