Google Chief Uses iPhone 17 Pro During Gemini Spark Demo, Deliberate?

Fri, 22 May 2026, 10:35 WIB | By Indriyani Astuti | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Technology

A unique moment at Google I/O 2026 occurred when Josh Woodward, head of Google Labs, was seen using an iPhone 17 Pro while demonstrating Gemini Spark, Google’s latest personal AI assistant designed to boost productivity. Not only that, several Mac devices were shown dominating the presentation to run the Gemini ecosystem. This sparked debate about the loyalties of Google’s executives and the business strategies they are pursuing.

Showing a competitor’s product on Google’s main stage instead of using the company’s own flagship smartphones such as the Pixel 10 Pro or Pixel 10 Pro XL might seem like a misstep. Yet, the decision is almost certainly a deliberate business move.

Currently, global iPhone users have reached about 1.56 billion, with an estimated market share of 57.24% in the United States, Google’s domestic market. Moreover, the iPhone 17 has just been reported as the world’s best-selling smartphone in Q1 2026.

With such a market scale, Apple ecosystem users are clearly a more lucrative and crucial consumer base for Google than Pixel users, whose global shipment share remains far behind.

Convincing iPhone users to try and adopt Google-made software, such as Gemini Spark, is easier and more realistic than forcing them to migrate entirely to Pixel devices.

On the other hand, Android or Pixel users already within the Google ecosystem do not need aggressive persuasion, because they will automatically assume that the latest AI features will be readily available on their devices.

Conversely, evidence that Gemini Spark can run smoothly on iOS and macOS, which now even has a dedicated app, sends a strong message to Apple users.

Additionally, the appearance of the iPhone on the Google I/O stage is also seen as a subtle signal of a deeper AI partnership between Google and Apple. Clarity about the close ties between the two tech giants is expected to be disclosed in more detail at WWDC 2026 scheduled for 8 June. (H-4)

This limited-edition iPhone 17 Pro is not a mass-market product directly from Apple’s Cupertino factory, but a modification by a renowned luxury goods maker. Caviar launched a 2007-based iPhone 17 Pro with fragments of the original iPhone 2G, titanium design, and production of only 11 units worldwide.

Exclusivity is also a major draw. The device is said to be produced in only nine units globally.

Several brands are beginning to offer smartphones with similar designs, particularly in the rear camera and body shape.

Which would you choose? Check the in-depth comparison of Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro. Review of the 200MP sensor, zoom capabilities, and pro video quality.

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