iOS 26.2: Replace Siri with Google Assistant/Gemini in EU & Poland?

Apple is preparing to allow users in the European Union to select a voice assistant other than Siri, a change prompted by new regulations aimed at curbing monopolistic practices. The feature, initially reported by Mark Gurman of Bloomberg several months ago, is now expected to debut with the release of iOS 26.2.

iOS 26.2: Could Gemini or Alexa Come to iPhones in Poland and the EU?

The update responds to EU requirements designed to foster competition in the digital marketplace. Bloomberg’s reporting in May indicated Apple intends to give users in the EU the option to replace Siri with alternatives like Google Assistant/Gemini or Amazon Alexa.

Early indications suggested the functionality would arrive with iOS 26, and recent developments suggest that timeline remains on track. Code within the recently released third beta of iOS 26.2 reveals that the iPhone’s side button may be reconfigurable to activate a voice assistant other than Siri – currently, the button exclusively launches Apple’s assistant.

While Apple has officially stated the feature will initially be available only in Japan, analysts anticipate a wider rollout to users across the European Union will follow shortly. This change could be particularly impactful in countries like Poland, where a native Polish-language Gemini assistant would eliminate the need to wait for a localized “Siri PL.”

The Google Gemini app has been available in the App Store for some time, but until now, it hasn’t been possible to set it as the default assistant on an iPhone. The ability to do so represents a significant shift in how users interact with their devices.

The final version of iOS 26.2 is scheduled for release in December.