Siri’s Gemini improve makes me much more excited for the following Apple TV

All the way in which again at WWDC 2024, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence and rolled it out later that fall with iOS 18.1. However one main characteristic was notably lacking at launch: the upgraded Siri powered by Apple Intelligence — the identical Siri Apple had spent a lot time displaying off throughout the occasion.

This new Siri is designed to know your private context and take actions in your cellphone for you, like pulling up a particular photograph you requested for. Briefly, it was pitched as a much more conversational and helpful model of Siri. In early 2025, Apple introduced it was delaying the improve, and at WWDC 2025, it confirmed the brand new Siri would arrive in 2026.

Quick-forward to now, and Apple has lastly shared thrilling particulars about its new Siri and what’s in retailer for the longer term. In an announcement to CNBC, Apple confirmed that its upgraded, customized Siri shall be powered by Google’s Gemini fashions and can launch later this yr.

“Apple and Google have entered right into a multi-year collaboration below which the following technology of Apple Basis Fashions shall be based mostly on Google’s Gemini fashions and cloud expertise.” Apple and Google stated in a joint statement. “These fashions will assist energy future Apple Intelligence options, together with a extra customized Siri coming this yr.”

What this might imply for the way forward for Apple TV

The following Apple TV is rumored to assist Apple Intelligence, alongside the brand new Siri

Personally, I am actually glad to lastly hear one thing official about Apple’s upgraded Siri. And whereas I am enthusiastic about what this implies for Siri on the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, one of many first issues that crossed my thoughts once I learn the information was what it may imply for Apple TV’s future.

Google rolled out Gemini for Google TV final yr, with good TVs working Google TV — together with the Google TV Streamer — receiving an replace that changed the outdated Google Assistant with Gemini. That Gemini improve unlocked new options, like asking your TV for customized film and TV present suggestions, getting a abstract of the final season of a present you watched, and even asking about present developments, akin to, “What’s the brand new hospital drama everybody’s speaking about?”

Notably, Apple hasn’t launched a brand new Apple TV since 2022. And whereas a new model was closely rumored for final yr, it by no means materialized. In November, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the following Apple TV “should not be far off,” including that it is anticipated to assist showcase the brand new Siri and Apple Intelligence options deliberate for 2026.

With Siri now confirmed to be powered by Google’s Gemini fashions — which have already confirmed themselves succesful on Google TV — I am unable to assist however ponder whether Siri/Apple Intelligence on a brand new Apple TV may ship an identical stage of help. The present-generation Apple TV would not assist Apple Intelligence in any respect, however the subsequent mannequin is rumored to be powered by Apple’s A17 Bionic chip, which might lastly allow assist for it.

The time for Apple to behave is now

Its opponents within the TV house are already forward

At this level, all of Apple’s main opponents within the TV house have already stepped up their AI efforts. Amazon has Alexa+ on Hearth TV, Roku has been including extra AI-driven options, and Google has Gemini on Google TV, as I discussed. On condition that, it will make sense to me that Apple ought to now use the instruments it has to do the identical, particularly since its Apple Basis Fashions are actually constructing on Google’s Gemini fashions and cloud expertise.

Apple and Google’s joint assertion says Gemini “will assist energy future Apple Intelligence options, together with a extra customized Siri,” so it is totally doable that the following Apple TV may launch with the upgraded Siri proper out of the gate. And additional down the highway, Apple may roll out further options just like what Gemini already presents on Google TV — like utilizing Siri to vary TV settings — one thing Google just announced for Google TV with Gemini at CES 2026. After all, all that is purely hypothesis on my half, but it surely’s arduous to not marvel what Apple Intelligence powered by Google Gemini fashions may imply for Apple TV, and with the next-generation Apple TV reportedly across the nook, it is an thrilling time to be an Apple TV fan.

Total, I believe Apple’s AI efforts shall be stronger due to its take care of Google to make use of Gemini fashions, and hopefully this may result in many thrilling enhancements not just for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac but additionally for the brand new Apple TV that’s inevitably coming. The upgraded model of Siri is rumored to launch with iOS 26.4 this spring, so hopefully the wait to be taught extra will not be an excessive amount of longer.