Did Apple Bet on the Wrong AI Horse with ChatGPT Over Gemini?

🤖 Siri’s AI Identity Crisis: A Battle of Bots Behind Closed Doors

When Apple announced ChatGPT integration for Siri at WWDC 2024, it seemed like a no-brainer. But behind the scenes, ex-Siri head John Giannandrea—a former Google AI executive—reportedly fought to prioritize Google’s Gemini instead. Why? He believed OpenAI’s star chatbot lacked long-term staying power and raised red flags about data privacy. Apple’s decision to roll with ChatGPT anyway reveals a high-stakes gamble in the AI arms race. Now, with plans to add Gemini and Perplexity later, is Apple hedging its bets—or scrambling to fix a mistake? Let’s dive in.

🌪️ The Problem: Why Apple’s AI Strategy Sparked Internal Warfare

• 🗣️ The Giannandrea Factor: As Siri’s leader until March 2024, Giannandrea pushed Gemini for its tighter data controls and Google’s infrastructure. His demotion during a leadership reshuffle coincided with Apple’s ChatGPT pivot.
• 🔒 Privacy Paradox: Apple’s "Privacy First" branding clashes with ChatGPT’s opaque data practices. Critics argue OpenAI’s model could expose sensitive queries tied to Apple IDs.
• ⏳ Short-Term vs. Long-Term: Giannandrea reportedly saw ChatGPT as a "flashy but fleeting" choice, while Gemini offered Google’s entrenched R&D muscle. Apple’s speed (launching ChatGPT integration by December 2024) may have trumped caution.

✅ Apple’s Solution: A Multi-Bot Future for Siri

Apple isn’t putting all its chips on ChatGPT. Their 2024 WWDC playbook includes:

• 🤝 The ChatGPT-Gemini Duo: Users can already tap ChatGPT when Siri fails, but Gemini integration is confirmed for late 2025. Early tests suggest Gemini handles complex math and coding queries better.
• 🔍 The Perplexity Wildcard: Apple is in talks with AI search startup Perplexity to offer an alternative to ChatGPT in Siri and Safari. Think of it as a Wolfram Alpha for the AI era—fact-focused and citation-heavy.
• 🚀 User Choice as Strategy: By letting users pick their preferred chatbot, Apple avoids vendor lock-in and positions Siri as a neutral "AI concierge."

⚠️ Challenges: Why This Multi-Bot Plan Could Backfire

• 🧩 Integration Chaos: Juggling multiple AI models (ChatGPT’s creativity vs. Gemini’s accuracy vs. Perplexity’s precision) risks inconsistent answers and user confusion.
• 🔋 Battery & Performance: Running several cloud-based AI models in the background could drain iPhone batteries faster—a PR nightmare for Apple.
• 📉 Perplexity’s Scale Problem: With just 10 million monthly users vs. ChatGPT’s 100 million, can this startup handle Apple’s 2 billion active devices?

🚀 Final Thoughts: Will Siri’s AI Smorgasbord Work?

Apple’s ChatGPT gamble hinges on three factors:

• 📈 Speed Over Perfection: Beating Google to market with AI features—even via partnerships—keeps Apple relevant.
• 🔐 Privacy Damage Control: If ChatGPT faces a data scandal, Gemini and Perplexity offer quick pivots.
• 💡 The Ecosystem Edge: Tight integration with iOS 18 and Safari could make Siri’s AI picker feel seamless rather than fragmented.

But the real test? Whether users care which bot answers their pizza recipe query. What do YOU think—is multi-AI the future, or just a messy compromise?

Let us know on X (Former Twitter)

Sources: TechCrunch. Ex-Siri head reportedly wanted Apple to choose Google’s Gemini over ChatGPT, May 19, 2025. https://techcrunch.com/2025/05/19/ex-siri-head-reportedly-wanted-apple-to-choose-googles-gemini-over-chatgpt/