Went Into WWDC 2026 Expecting a Gemini Clone, But Apple's New Siri Proved Me Wrong

At WWDC 2026, Apple announced a significant departure from a Gemini clone narrative by revealing Siri’s renewed architecture and partnerships. Chief among details was Apple’s claim of a deep collaboration with Google, while stressing that Siri does not simply become Gemini in Apple clothing. Federighi outlined Siri AI’s underlying framework: a family of five Apple Foundational Models (AFMs) spanning on-device and cloud capabilities, including AFM Core, AFM Core Advanced, AFM Cloud, AFM Cloud Image, and AFM Cloud Pro. The system uses a dedicated orchestrator to select the appropriate model, and Siri will not rely on Google Search for current events, instead tapping Apple’s own world-knowledge service. Critics and observers noted the nuance in Apple’s approach as more than a rebranding exercise.