Apple Responds to 'Gemini' Rumors: Self-Developed Siri AI Model Built Independently

After the 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple executives responded to media interviews regarding recent speculation about whether their new AI model was a "Gemini shell." Apple clarified that its Apple Foundation Models (AFM) are not simply a rebranding of Google's Gemini technology, but are entirely developed in-house and independent.

Apple pointed out that while the AFM models did indeed utilize Google's Gemini technology during distillation and training, the final product is entirely based on Apple's own code, technology, and data system. This means that users will not directly access Google's code or the Gemini intelligence, and it cannot access Google.

Currently, the Apple Foundation Models system includes five main models. The first is the edge-side model AFM Core, focusing on basic AI operations. Next is AF Core Advanced, which has native multimodal capabilities and uses a sparse architecture, allowing more complex AI functions to be implemented locally. In addition, the cloud model AFM Cloud handles high-load requests, M Cloud Image focuses on image generation and editing, and AFM Cloud Pro is designed for agent tools and the heaviest workload tasks. Each model is customized for Apple's Apple Silicon and trained using proprietary data, with distillation optimization using the Gemini model.

Apple also emphasized that although its cloud models use Google Cloud servers and NVIDIA graphics processing resources, they maintain Private Cloud Compute certification to ensure user data security and privacy protection.

Crossing Borders and the Digital Divide: Ant Group Launches the AMP Protocol to Enable a New Payment Chain for Global Intelligent Agents

Artificial intelligence is driving a transformation in business logic from manual user operations to intelligent agent execution. Intelligent agents have become the new entry points for search, decision-making, and shopping, but convenience and security in the payment process remain critical challenges. To address this, Ant Group has launched the Mobile Intelligent Agent Protocol (AMP) to build a trusted and efficient payment infrastructure for this emerging business model.

No Shell Games! Apple Responds Directly to the iOS 27 AI Controversy: Apple Foundation Models Are Fully Developed In-House

Apple released iOS 27 at WWDC26, and its deeply integrated artificial intelligence system, Apple Foundation Models (AFM), became the center of attention. In response to the criticism that AFM was merely a 'shell' of Google Gemini, Apple executives strongly rebutted: AFM is not a simple rebranding but a completely self-developed achievement, with only partial Gemini technology being referenced.

Apple Completely Waives Cloud API Fees for Small Developers, AI Ecosystem Sees a Breaking Point Amid High Computing Costs

At the 2026 Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple announced a new strategy: developers with less than 2 million downloads can freely access its private cloud foundation models without paying API fees. This move continues Apple's tradition of supporting independent developers, with a threshold consistent with the "Small Business Program" commission reduction policy, aiming to lower AI infrastructure costs.

Gu Quanquan Confirms Departure from ByteDance's Seed Team, Previously Led the Development of SeedFold and Seed2.0 Training System

Gu Quanquan, a core researcher at ByteDance's Seed team, has confirmed her departure. She shared her research achievements in AI drug discovery and pre-training of large language models over the past three years on a social platform. The bio-molecular structure prediction model SeedFold, which she led the development of, performed excellently in multiple public benchmark tests. This departure comes as ByteDance's AI business accelerates its commercialization, drawing attention to the emerging trend of AI for Science startups.

Listen to Garbled Audio and Get Hacked? Google Gemini Voice Assistant Exposes a Hidden Vulnerability, Hackers Use Special Notifications to Poison the AI

Smart homes and voice assistants have become new targets for hackers. SafeBreach revealed a hidden vulnerability in Google Gemini, allowing hackers to send malicious notifications via WhatsApp or SMS, tricking the voice assistant into performing unauthorized actions, potentially taking over smart homes or altering contact lists. This threat is named "Pseudo-Context Alignment".