Apple is exploring a major shift in its voice assistant strategy by potentially partnering with OpenAI or Anthropic to power Siri’s core artificial intelligence. According to Bloomberg, the tech giant has held discussions with both companies regarding the integration of a third-party large language model (LLM) into Siri’s backend, marking a significant departure from its traditional approach of in-house development.

Testing AI Models on Apple’s Private Cloud

Both OpenAI and Anthropic are currently working on customised versions of their models to ensure compatibility with Apple’s Private Cloud Compute servers. Apple has already begun testing these models internally but has not yet made a final decision on whether it will completely replace Siri’s existing system. Among the two contenders, Anthropic’s Claude appears to be a better technical fit, with preliminary financial talks already taking place between the two companies.

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Anthropic’s High Price Tag 

Anthropic’s licensing proposal reportedly involves a multibillion-dollar annual fee that increases over time. This steep cost is a major factor in Apple’s continued interest in OpenAI as a potential alternative. While Claude may offer a better functional match, Apple is weighing its options carefully given the financial implications.

Siri's AI Delays & Struggles

Apple has been quietly developing its own large language model with the goal of upgrading Siri in a future release. However, the company has faced ongoing challenges in advancing its AI capabilities. At the June 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple showcased several new Siri features and even promoted the iPhone 16 lineup as AI-powered. Despite the hype, the technology wasn’t ready in time for launch.

The delay has had repercussions. In March, Apple officially postponed the rollout of its new "Apple Intelligence" Siri features to 2026. The announcement triggered customer frustration and led to several lawsuits, putting pressure on the company to accelerate its AI roadmap. The plan now is to introduce the delayed features in an update to iOS 26.

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A Smarter Siri—Built by Someone Else?

With its internal AI development lagging behind expectations, Apple appears more open than ever to outsourcing key capabilities. Whether it’s ChatGPT’s language fluency or Claude’s contextual understanding, both AI models could offer the intelligence Siri desperately needs to stay competitive. But with cost, control, and compatibility at stake, Apple’s final choice could reshape its approach to voice assistants for years to come.