For years now, Siri has felt like the weak link in Apple’s otherwise slick ecosystem. While ChatGPT, Gemini, and even Alexa have surged ahead, Apple’s voice assistant has mostly stood still, promising big things but never actually fulfilling them.
That’s finally starting to change, however, as Apple and Google have entered into a long-term partnership where Siri will be powered by Gemini.
As someone who’s used Gemini on Android for months now, this is genuinely exciting. But confirmation alone isn’t enough. If Apple wants this to be the Siri reset iPhone users have been waiting for, here are five things I really want to see when it finally arrives.
1. A Siri that can actually hold a conversation
Right now, Siri still feels transactional. You ask a question, you get an answer, and the conversation ends. Ask a follow-up, and it’s a coin toss whether Siri remembers what you were talking about in the first place.
If Apple is plugging Gemini into Siri, that has to change. Gemini already handles conversational context well. It understands follow-ups, clarifications, and vague human language without needing you to repeat yourself like a robot.
If I ask for restaurant recommendations and then say “book the second one,” Siri should just get it. In 2026, with AI assistants capable of booking flights a reality, this should be the bare minimum for a Gemini-powered Siri.
2. Real help with real tasks
Siri has always been fine at trivia and timers, and while that was enough in 2011, it's not anymore.
A Gemini-powered Siri should help you do things, not just answer questions you could simply use Google Search for. Planning trips, summarizing emails, organizing your day, and making sense of information across apps should all be on the table, and I genuinely think that's the absolute minimum.
Gemini already does this in apps like Gmail, which is why my expectations are high. If Siri can’t help me plan a weekend away using my calendar, messages, and location data, then something’s gone wrong.
This is Apple’s chance to turn Siri into a genuine personal assistant, and I'm hoping once Gemini enters the fray, it'll just be the beginning of a Google AI-powered iPhone capable of streamlining my life.
3. Intelligence without ignoring privacy
Apple leaning on Google for AI will understandably make some people nervous. Privacy is still Apple’s biggest selling point, and it cannot afford to fumble that trust now, especially when it's the main reason the company has gotten away with being behind in the AI race for so long.
The good news is Apple has already laid the groundwork with on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute. The Gemini-powered Siri needs to feel just as safe with clear explanations of what data is used, when it leaves your device, and how it’s protected.
The experience should feel private by default, not something you need to opt out of, and if Apple gets this right, it could end up being the most privacy-conscious AI assistant on the market.
4. Memory, memory, memory
In my opinion, memory is one of the most important features of any AI chatbot, and if you live in the UK like me, you'll know Google still hasn't fully launched Gemini's memory functionality across the pond.
I'm hoping Apple's Gemini-powered Siri can remember everything I do on my device while still operating within Apple's industry-leading privacy bubble.
I know I've mentioned memory across multiple sections in this article, but I truly believe Apple could win the hearts of every AI-sceptic if it were able to create the ultimate personal assistant in your pocket - one that's capable of remembering where you had breakfast, when your next meeting is, and what the last movie you saw at the cinema was.
Apple can play into its privacy-first approach to make AI memory impressive rather than creepy, and if it does, I'll be convinced about Apple Intelligence again.
5. Siri that finally understands the Apple ecosystem
Siri never actually feels connected to your experience on an Apple device. For years, it has just been an extra on top of iOS or iPadOS, which often feels like a gimmick more than a useful tool.
A Gemini-powered Siri should understand that your iPhone, Mac, iPad, Watch, and Apple TV are all part of the same life. Context should carry over between devices, and everything should sync seamlessly.
If I start a conversation on my iPhone, I should be able to continue it on my Mac without starting from scratch. If Siri knows what I’m doing on one device, it should use that knowledge on another.
This is where Apple can really shine. No one else controls hardware, software, and services the way Apple does. A smarter Siri should finally bring all of that together.
The Siri we've been waiting for is just around the corner
Apple confirming a Gemini-powered Siri is a big deal, but it’s also an admission that the company needs to do better. Apple knows it fell behind, but 2026 could be the year it rectifies the wrongs.
If Apple nails these five things, Siri could go from being a punchline to being one of the best AI assistants you can use. Not because it’s the flashiest, but because it’s the most useful in everyday life.
After years of waiting, iPhone users deserve nothing less.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form, and get regular updates from us on WhatsApp too.
➡️ Read our full guide to the best cloud backup
1. Best overall:
IDrive
2. Best lifetime value:
pCloud
3. Best for teams:
Sync.com
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.