The Vergecast: Ad-Free Edition Siri is a Gemini
Jan 16, 2026
Apple's strategic partnership with Google for Gemini AI promises a significant upgrade for Siri, raising questions about privacy and model ownership. Meanwhile, the tech world grapples with a rising tide of lawsuits against Google related to antitrust issues. Grok's deepfake dilemma on X highlights failures in moderation, while Meta's dwindling interest in VR spells trouble for its fitness app Supernatural. The lightning round covers a range of topics, from media drama to the latest controversies surrounding Trump’s phone.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Product Beats Model Ownership
- Building a great AI product matters more than training your own model from scratch.
- Nilay Patel argues Apple should buy or integrate models rather than shoulder massive training costs itself.
Cook Doctrine Meets AI Realities
- Apple faces a Cook Doctrine dilemma: own core tech versus only act where it can contribute.
- Nilay frames Apple’s Gemini deal as a failure to control a primary technology but perhaps pragmatic given realities.
Apple's Gemini Deal Is Technically Ambiguous
- Apple's deal with Google likely makes Gemini the technical foundation for 'Apple Foundation models.'
- David Pierce and Nilay highlight ambiguity about cloud routing and whether Apple will fork Gemini or just call it in the cloud.