TL;DR
A report at The Information says some Apple leaders expect large language models (LLMs) to become commodities, which may explain the company's conservative AI spending and delayed Siri upgrades. Apple reportedly maintains an internal models team while exploring partnerships to power Siri.
What happened
A recent report published at The Information and summarized by 9to5Mac suggests that Apple’s executive view of the long-term trajectory for large language models is informing a restrained approach to AI investment. The article notes that some leaders inside Apple believe LLMs will eventually be commoditized, so committing massive resources now to build proprietary models may not be prudent. The report also says Apple still retains a group developing internal models it could use in future, even as the company faces criticism for pausing or delaying several planned Siri upgrades earlier this year. Separately, the piece references a rumored Google partnership to help power a new Siri. The Information’s reporting follows signals from Wall Street that Apple’s cautious AI spending might turn into an advantage, and frames Apple’s strengths as controlling the hardware, software and services stack where AI will run.
Why it matters
- If Apple treats LLMs as future commodities, its competitive edge will likely rest on integrating AI into its hardware and software ecosystem rather than on bespoke large models.
- Conservative AI spending could reduce near-term development costs but may slow Apple’s ability to match competitor capabilities in model-driven features.
- Partnerships to power Siri would shift some AI capability decisions outside Apple, affecting user experience and vendor relationships.
- Investor perspectives (Wall Street signals) may view a measured approach as financially prudent, influencing market expectations for Apple’s AI roadmap.
Key facts
- The Information published a report cited by 9to5Mac about internal sentiment at Apple regarding LLMs.
- Some Apple leaders reportedly believe large language models will become commodities over time.
- Apple still has an internal team working on its own models that could be used later.
- Apple faced criticism earlier in the year after delaying several significant Siri upgrades.
- Wall Street analysts recently suggested Apple’s conservative AI spending might be an advantage.
- Competitors named in the context of larger model investments include OpenAI, Meta and Google.
- The report references a rumored partnership with Google to help power the new Siri.
- Apple’s current strengths noted in the report are its control over hardware, software and services.
What to watch next
- Whether Apple formally announces any partnership to power Siri with an outside model provider: not confirmed in the source.
- If Apple will increase direct investment in proprietary LLMs or scale back its internal model effort: not confirmed in the source.
- How competitors’ model investments affect consumer expectations and Apple’s product timelines: not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- Large language model (LLM): A neural network trained on large text datasets to generate or understand human-like text and perform related tasks.
- Siri: Apple’s on-device virtual assistant that performs tasks and answers questions for users across Apple devices.
- Commoditization: The process by which a product or service becomes widely available, standardized, and interchangeable across providers.
- Internal models: Machine learning models developed in-house by a company rather than sourced from external vendors or partners.
Reader FAQ
Did Apple delay Siri upgrades this year?
Yes; the source states Apple was criticized for delaying several powerful Siri upgrades earlier in the year.
Is Apple partnering with Google to power the new Siri?
The report mentions a rumored Google partnership to power the new Siri, but that pairing is presented as a rumor in the source.
Is Apple abandoning development of its own language models?
No. The source says Apple still has a team working on internal models, though some leaders question large investments now.
Do all Apple leaders agree LLMs will become commodities?
The source reports that some leaders hold that view; it does not say whether it is a consensus across Apple.
iOS 26 has three new iPhone features I’ve been really loving Ryan Christoffel Dec 29 2025 AAPL COMPANY APPLE INTELLIGENCE Apple may see the future of LLMs very differently than…
Sources
- Apple may see the future of LLMs very differently than most: report
- Apple: Why AI Caution May Become Its Advantage
- Apple's slow AI pace becomes a strength as market grows …
- Apple's Slow AI Pace Becomes a Strength as Market …
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