Google News: Latest Updates & Announcements

Google Update Hub – News, Releases & Insights

Microsoft    AI    Huawei    Drones    Nvidia    Samsung    Oracle

Apple Selects Google’s Gemini to Power Next-Generation AI and Siri in Landmark Partnership

In a strategic shift, Apple has entered a multi-year agreement with Google to utilize its Gemini AI models and cloud infrastructure.

The deal will enable future Apple Intelligence capabilities, including a more advanced and personalized Siri expected later this year.

Apple confirmed the partnership, stating that after careful evaluation, Google’s technology was selected as “the most capable foundation” for its Apple Foundation Models. The company emphasized that its Apple Intelligence system will continue to prioritize privacy, operating on-device and through its Private Cloud Compute while leveraging Google’s underlying AI models.

The announcement was met with enthusiasm from Google’s leadership. Jeff Dean, Google's chief scientist, expressed excitement about bringing Gemini models to Apple users. However, the deal drew criticism from Elon Musk, founder of xAI, who called it an “unreasonable concentration of power” for Google.

This partnership signals growing industry confidence in Google’s AI technology amid competition with rivals like OpenAI. It also follows months of collaboration signals, including a joint advertising campaign in November that hinted at deeper integration. The campaign featured an iPhone crediting a Google Pixel for pioneering features, including an AI assistant capable of real conversation.

Reports from Bloomberg in August had previously indicated early talks between the two companies. It has also been reported that Apple plans to pay Google approximately $1 billion annually for the AI technology access.

Google Withdraws EU Antitrust Complaint Against Microsoft Amid Cloud Market Probe

Google has reportedly withdrawn its antitrust complaint against Microsoft in the European Union, specifically regarding Microsoft’s cloud computing practices.

This move comes just one week after EU regulators officially launched a formal investigation into the cloud services market. The Alphabet-owned company initially filed a complaint with the European Commission (EC) last year, alleging that Microsoft engaged in anti-competitive practices that effectively locked customers into its Azure cloud platform.

However, according to a Reuters report, Giorgia Abeltino, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Google Cloud Europe, announced that Google is now withdrawing its complaint. This decision follows the EC’s recent announcement that it will examine potentially harmful practices in the cloud sector through a separate, dedicated process.

Last week, the European Commission (EC) launched an investigation into whether structural characteristics of the cloud computing industry are entrenching the market power of major providers such as Microsoft’s Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

“We continue to work with policymakers, customers, and regulators across the EU, the UK, and beyond to champion choice and openness in the cloud market,” Abeltino reportedly stated.

The EC’s year-long probe could lead to Azure, AWS, and other dominant cloud platforms being designated as “gatekeepers” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Such a designation would impose stringent regulatory obligations aimed at curbing anti-competitive practices and fostering greater market competition.

Microsoft has previously dismissed Google’s allegations. In July 2024, it reached a €20 million settlement with the trade association CISPE to resolve a separate antitrust complaint concerning its cloud licensing practices. Following that agreement, a Microsoft spokesperson told Mobile World Live that the company expected the European Commission to dismiss Google’s complaint.

“Microsoft amicably settled concerns similar to those raised by European cloud providers, even though Google had hoped they would continue litigating,” the company said at the time. “Having failed to convince European businesses, Google will likely fail to persuade the European Commission as well.”