Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk has sharply criticised Apple’s decision to partner with Google for its next generation of artificial intelligence features, calling the collaboration an “unreasonable concentration of power”. The Tesla and SpaceX chief’s remarks came after Google officially confirmed a multi-year agreement with Apple to power future Apple Intelligence features, including an advanced version of Siri, using Google’s Gemini AI models.
Musk made the comments on X, responding directly to an official Google post announcing the partnership. He argued that the deal further strengthens Google’s dominance in the global technology ecosystem, where it already controls major platforms such as Android and the Chrome browser.
“This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome,” Musk wrote, sparking a wider debate on competition, market power and the future of AI partnerships between Big Tech firms.
What the Apple–Google deal involves
Under the newly announced partnership, Apple’s next-generation Apple Foundation Models will be built on Google’s Gemini artificial intelligence technology. These models are expected to power a range of upcoming Apple Intelligence features, most notably a more personalised and capable version of Siri that is likely to be rolled out later this year.
In a joint statement, Apple and Google said the decision followed a “careful evaluation” of available AI technologies. Apple described Gemini as the most capable foundation to support its long-term artificial intelligence roadmap. The company also stressed that Apple Intelligence would continue to prioritise privacy, with most processing happening on-device or through its Private Cloud Compute system.
Apple has positioned privacy as a key differentiator in the AI race, repeatedly assuring users that their personal data will not be used to train external models or shared without consent. According to the companies, the Gemini models will operate within Apple’s controlled environment rather than directly exposing user data to Google.
Musk’s broader concerns about Big Tech power
Musk’s criticism goes beyond this single deal and reflects his long-standing concerns about the concentration of power among a handful of technology giants. By partnering with Google, Apple — itself one of the world’s most valuable companies — is effectively relying on a rival that already dominates search, mobile operating systems and web browsing.
Industry observers note that the Apple–Google relationship has historically been complex. Despite being competitors, the two companies have maintained lucrative partnerships, including Google paying Apple billions of dollars annually to remain the default search engine on Safari. The Gemini deal adds another layer to that relationship, this time in the strategically critical AI space.
Musk has repeatedly warned that artificial intelligence could reshape global power structures, arguing that excessive control by a few corporations could stifle innovation and limit consumer choice.
xAI, OpenAI and Apple: an ongoing dispute
Musk’s comments also come against the backdrop of his ongoing legal and public disputes with Apple and OpenAI. His AI company, xAI, is currently suing Apple and OpenAI over their earlier partnership that integrated ChatGPT into Siri as an optional feature.
Musk has alleged that Apple’s App Store policies unfairly favour OpenAI and make it difficult for competing AI assistants, including xAI’s Grok, to gain visibility and adoption on Apple devices. He has claimed that Apple’s ecosystem advantages certain partners while limiting genuine competition.
The Gemini agreement is seen by some analysts as Apple’s attempt to diversify its AI partnerships beyond OpenAI, while still maintaining tight control over how external models are deployed on its platforms.
Why Apple is turning to Gemini
Apple has faced growing criticism for lagging behind rivals such as Google and Amazon in artificial intelligence. Siri, once a pioneer in voice assistants, has struggled in recent years to keep pace with Alexa and Google Assistant, particularly in handling complex, multi-step queries and deeper third-party app integrations.
According to reports, Apple views Gemini as a temporary but powerful solution while it continues to develop its own in-house AI capabilities. Reuters has reported that Apple intends to rely on external models only until its proprietary systems are ready to match or surpass competitors.
A Bloomberg report has estimated that the Gemini collaboration could cost Apple around $1 billion per year, underlining how seriously the company is taking the AI race. The report also suggested that the Gemini deal gives Apple more control over the AI models running on its platforms compared to its earlier agreement with OpenAI.
What the deal does not include
Importantly, the partnership does not mean deeper integration of Google’s consumer AI products into Apple’s ecosystem. The agreement is separate from earlier discussions about offering Gemini directly as a chatbot option on Apple devices.
Apple and Google have clarified that the deal will not bring Google’s AI-powered search features to iPhones or iPads, nor will it change existing search arrangements. Instead, the focus remains squarely on backend AI models that enhance Apple Intelligence features such as Siri.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s criticism of the Apple–Google Gemini partnership has reignited questions about competition and power in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. While Apple argues that the deal is a pragmatic step to deliver better AI features without compromising privacy, Musk and others see it as another example of Big Tech consolidating influence.
As artificial intelligence becomes more central to smartphones, cloud services and everyday digital interactions, partnerships like this are likely to face increasing scrutiny from rivals, regulators and consumers alike. Whether Musk’s concerns translate into regulatory action or broader industry changes remains to be seen, but the debate over who controls the future of AI is clearly far from over.