Siri’s Gemini improve makes me much more excited for the subsequent 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 exhibiting off through 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. In brief, 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 a press release to CNBC, Apple confirmed that its upgraded, personalised Siri might be powered by Google’s Gemini fashions and can launch later this 12 months.

“Apple and Google have entered right into a multi-year collaboration underneath which the subsequent era of Apple Basis Fashions might be primarily based 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 personalised Siri coming this 12 months.”

What this might imply for the way forward for Apple TV

The subsequent Apple TV is rumored to help 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 12 months, with good TVs working Google TV — together with the Google TV Streamer — receiving an replace that changed the outdated Google Assistant with Gemini.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 personalised film and TV present suggestions, getting a abstract of the final season of a present you watched, and even asking about present traits, 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 12 months, it by no means materialized. In November, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the subsequent 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 can not assist however wonder if Siri/Apple Intelligence on a brand new Apple TV may ship an identical degree of help. The present-generation Apple TV would not help Apple Intelligence in any respect, however the subsequent mannequin is rumored to be powered by Apple’s A17 Bionic chip, which might lastly allow help for it.

The time for Apple to behave is now

Its opponents within the TV area are already forward

At this level, all of Apple’s main opponents within the TV area 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. Provided that, it could make sense to me that Apple ought to now use the instruments it has to do the identical, particularly since its Apple Basis Fashions at the moment are 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 personalised Siri,” so it is totally attainable that the subsequent Apple TV may launch with the upgraded Siri proper out of the gate. And additional down the highway, Apple may roll out extra options much 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. In fact, all that is purely hypothesis on my half, nevertheless it’s onerous 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.

General, I feel Apple’s AI efforts might be stronger because of its take care of Google to make use of Gemini fashions, and hopefully this can result in many thrilling enhancements not just for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac but in addition 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.