The end of the ChatGPT exclusivity era! According to reports, Apple (AAPL.US) is rumored to open Siri to external AI assistants, potentially transforming the iPhone into an "AI gateway platform."

Bloomberg reports that, according to sources familiar with the matter, Apple (AAPL.US) plans to open Siri to external AI assistants, aiming to strengthen iPhone’s position as an AI platform. The sources say Apple is preparing to include this change as part of a major upgrade to Siri in the upcoming iOS 27 operating system update. Currently, Siri can access ChatGPT through a partnership with OpenAI, but Apple will allow Siri to connect with other competing products.

These changes are part of Apple’s effort to reverse its decline in the AI field. The company has lagged behind its Silicon Valley peers in this area. Revamping Siri, first introduced nearly 15 years ago, is central to this turnaround plan. Insiders say Apple is developing new tools to enable AI chatbot apps installed via the App Store to integrate with Siri. These chatbots will also work with an upcoming Siri app and other features within the Apple Intelligence platform.

This means that, for example, if users install Google’s (GOOGL.UQ) Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude, they will be able to send queries to these services through Siri voice commands, just as they do with ChatGPT since the launch of Apple Intelligence in 2024. This approach will also allow Apple to generate more revenue from third-party AI subscriptions via the App Store.

This move will end ChatGPT’s exclusive role in Apple’s software. From the start, internal debates at Apple centered around whether OpenAI was the right partner. Former Apple AI chief John Giannandrea questioned the startup’s long-term viability and leaned toward partnering with Google. Before choosing ChatGPT as the partner for Apple Intelligence, Apple evaluated multiple AI chatbots internally. After negotiations, the company ultimately selected OpenAI’s product, citing it as the best available option at the time.

The new strategy will eliminate the need for one-time integration agreements like with ChatGPT. This means Apple can more quickly introduce multiple external AI services and potentially expand AI’s role in its operating systems without extensive business negotiations.

Currently, users can direct Siri queries to ChatGPT by explicitly requesting OpenAI’s service. Under the new system, users will specify which AI service to use for each query. Other major AI platforms are already available as apps on Apple devices, including Perplexity, Amazon’s (AMZN.US) Alexa, Meta’s (META.US) Meta AI, xAI’s Grok, and Microsoft’s (MSFT.US) Copilot. It’s unclear whether Apple will allow any AI app to be added to Siri or if a specific approval process will be established.

During the development of Apple Intelligence, Apple envisioned connecting Siri to multiple AI services, including specialized chatbots like those for medical professionals. In 2024, Apple announced progress on Gemini integration, but the project has never fully materialized.

Under the new strategy, Apple can generate additional revenue by taking a cut from paid subscriptions to competing AI services promoted on its devices. Currently, Apple earns revenue by offering its payment system when users subscribe to higher-tier ChatGPT plans.

This change is separate from Apple’s ongoing work with Google to rebuild Siri using the Gemini model—related to the underlying Apple technology behind Siri. Meanwhile, the so-called new “Extensions system” will allow users to enable or disable services they want Siri to run via the Gemini platform, provided Google permits its apps to support this feature.

The testing version of the Extensions system will let users activate or deactivate services within the Apple Intelligence and Siri menus in the Settings panel of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. A prompt in the upcoming OS beta states: “Extensions allow proxies from installed apps to work with Siri, Siri apps, and other device functions.” Users will also access a new section in the App Store through this menu to add more AI services.

Additionally, opening Siri is just one of several AI initiatives underway. Reports indicate Apple is preparing to launch a dedicated Siri app and a new interface. The company is also integrating Siri with Spotlight search and adding features like “Ask Siri” and “Write with Siri.”

Apple plans to announce its latest software at WWDC on June 8, though these features may still change or be delayed before release. The iPhone maker has promised to share details about its “AI progress” during the event.