For years now, Siri has felt like the weak link in Apple's otherwise slick ecosystem. While ChatGPT, Gemini, and even Alexa have advanced, Apple's voice assistant has remained largely still, promising big things but never delivering on them.
That's finally starting to change, however, as Apple and Google have signed a long-term partnership where Siri will work with Gemini.
As someone who has used Gemini on Android for months, this is really exciting. But confirmation alone is not enough. If Apple wants this to be the Siri reboot 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 carry on a conversation
Right now, Siri still feels transactional. You ask a question, you get an answer, and the conversation ends. Ask for a follow-up and it'll be a coin toss if Siri remembers what you were talking about in the first place.
If Apple is connecting Gemini to Siri, that has to change. Gemini already handles the conversational context well. It understands follow-ups, clarifications, and vague human language without needing you to repeat it like a robot.
If I ask for restaurant recommendations and then say “book second,” Siri should receive them. In 2026, with AI assistants capable of booking flights, this should be the minimum for a Gemini-powered Siri.
2. Real help with real tasks
Siri has always been good with trivia and timers, and while that was enough in 2011, it isn't 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 understanding information across apps should be on the table, and I truly believe it's the absolute minimum.
Gemini already does this in apps like Gmail, so my expectations are high. If Siri can't help me plan a weekend using my calendar, messages, and location data, then something has gone wrong.
This is Apple's chance to turn Siri into a genuine personal assistant, and I hope that once Gemini enters the picture, it's just the beginning of an AI-powered iPhone from Google capable of simplifying my life.
3. Intelligence without ignoring privacy
Apple leaning on Google for AI will understandably make some people nervous. Privacy remains Apple's biggest selling point, and it can't afford to lose that trust now, especially when it's the main reason the company has gotten away with falling behind in the AI race for so long.
The good news is that Apple has already laid the groundwork with on-device processing and private cloud computing. Siri powered by Gemini needs to feel just as secure with clear explanations of what data is used, when it leaves your device, and how it is protected.
The experience should feel private by default, not something to opt out, and if Apple gets it right, it could end up being the most privacy-aware 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 that Google has yet to fully release Gemini's memory functionality across the pond.
I hope 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 in several sections of this article, but I truly believe that Apple could win the hearts of all AI skeptics 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 in the theater was.
Apple can leverage its privacy-first approach to make AI memory awesome instead of creepy, and if it does, I'll be sold on Apple Intelligence again.
5. Siri who finally understands the Apple ecosystem
Siri never really feels connected to your experience on an Apple device. For years, it's simply been an extra on top of iOS or iPadOS, often seeming like a gimmick rather than a useful tool.
A Gemini-powered Siri needs to understand that your iPhone, Mac, iPad, Watch, and Apple TV are all part of the same life. Context must move between devices and everything must sync seamlessly.
If I start a conversation on my iPhone, I should be able to continue it on my Mac without having to start 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 like Apple does. A smarter Siri should finally bring all of that together.
The Siri we were 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 was left behind, but 2026 could be the year it rectifies its mistakes.
If Apple accomplishes these five things, Siri could go from punchline to one of the best AI assistants you can use. Not because it is the most striking, but because it is the most useful on a daily basis.
After years of waiting, iPhone users deserve nothing less.
Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to receive news, reviews and opinions from our experts in your feeds. Be sure to click the Follow button!
And of course you can also follow TechRadar on TikTok for news, reviews, unboxings in video form and receive regular updates from us on WhatsApp also.
The best cloud backup for every budget
