Apple's AI-Powered Siri Upgrade Faces Significant Delays, Now Expected in Spring 2026

Siri's Big AI Upgrade Is Coming, but Reportedly Not Until Spring 2026

Apple previously delayed a Siri update set to imbue the service with more artificial intelligence features and expand its capabilities. Apple appears to be making progress on a major update to its Siri software that would expand its capabilities and incorporate more AI features. According to a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the delayed update for Siri now has an internal release window of spring 2026. The update, which could arrive with iOS version 26.4, would make good on features and updates Apple first introduced at 2024's WWDC. Since then, the updates to Siri that were supposed to incorporate many of the company's Apple Intelligence have failed to materialize, and the company's AI efforts so far have not wowed tech enthusiasts. New capabilities for Siri would allow it to have more controls over apps across different devices. But according to Bloomberg's report, internal development of Siri has been chaotic and the possibility of releasing a big update in spring is not a sure thing. One scenario is that a preview version would be available at that time with a full release set for 2026's iPhone rollout later in the year. Fortunately for Apple, AI is not currently factoring heavily into people's phone-buying decisions. A CNET survey published this week suggests just 11% of people are driven to upgrade due to AI features. A representative from Apple did not immediately return a request for information on the update. Apple has been vague in statements about Siri's next update, promising only that it would be available "in the coming year." Amazon has had similar struggles with Alexa, its personal assistant software available on devices from Amazon and other companies. Its Alexa products have lost money and the company is in the process of rolling out Alexa Plus, which also incorporates new AI-driven features and would require a fee for those who don't have Amazon Prime. That rollout has also had delays.

Apple Explains Why It Delayed AI Siri, Confirms It Won't Arrive Until 2026

Apple's AI-powered Siri upgrade wasn't part of WWDC 2025, but two of the company's representatives have spoke about the delay and what the future holds for the tool. Apple originally revealed an AI-powered Siri back in June 2024 showing how the assistant could work across your device's apps. The company then confirmed in March that the features were delayed. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple's SVP of software, Craig Federighi, and SVP of worldwide marketing, Greg Joswiak, spoke about the delay. "We don't want to disappoint customers", said Joswiak. "We never do but it would have been disappointing to ship something that didn't hit our quality standard that had an error rate that we felt was unacceptable." Federighi said later in the conversation that the feature didn't "work reliably enough to be an Apple product." He also said he believes no other rival service is currently able to reliably automate processes on devices. In another interview with TechRadar and Tom's Guide, Joswiak confirmed these features won't be launching until 2026. The company had previously said it'd be arriving in the "coming year," which caused confusion on whether it meant in the next 12 months or at some stage in 2026. That may mean we see these get added in a later version of iOS 26, or they may possibly even come in iOS 27. Federighi said, "We will announce the date when we're ready to seed it." Apple also confirmed its issues with the assistant stemmed from the underlying architecture used to develop it. Federighi said the company was working on two versions simultaneously with one version running on "a deeper end-to-end architecture." Federighi said, "We realized that V1 architecture, we could push and push and put in more time, but if we tried to push that out in the state it was going to be in, it would not meet our customer expectations or Apple standards, and that we had to move to the V2 architecture." Federighi also spoke to YouTuber iJustine where he confirmed Apple plans to ship everything it has previously announced as part of an AI-powered Siri. He shared that there were more features to come, but the company wants to hold fire on announcing anything further until it's ready to launch. The features previously announced include awareness across an iPhone allowing Siri to interact with various apps at the same time. One example used in the original launch showed Siri finding a photo of a driver's license in Apple Photos, taking the ID number from it and adding it into the relevant section on a web form.

Report: Siri's Long-Delayed AI Features May Arrive With iOS 26.4

The update to iOS typically arrives in March. Apple doesn't intend to delay Siri's AI features beyond spring 2026, sources tell Bloomberg. Eager to try out those AI-powered Siri features Apple announced last year? Sorry, you will have to wait until next year. As Bloomberg reports, citing sources familiar with the development, Apple is now targeting a spring 2026 release for some long-delayed Siri AI features. That includes Siri's ability to tap into users' personal context and take actions based on what's displayed on screen. In a demo at WWDC 24, an Apple executive asked Siri for their mom's flight details. Siri scanned an email from their mom to find the flight information and then checked the live status online before providing a response. This version of an advanced Siri was supposed to arrive with iOS 18. However, in March, Apple said, "It's going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features, and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year." While "coming year" might have suggested 2025, Apple clarified earlier this week that it meant 2026. Bloomberg now reports that the update will arrive with iOS 26.4. Historically, the ".4" update for iOS has arrived in March, and the same can be expected of iOS 26. The exact date is yet to be decided, but internally, Apple isn't expecting a date beyond spring, sources tell Bloomberg. For the delay, Apple has blamed Siri's underlying V1 architecture. The team working on Siri found "that the limitations of the V1 architecture weren't getting us to the quality level that we knew our customers needed and expected," said Craig Federighi, Apple's software boss, in an interview following WWDC 2025. Once the company realized the issues, it moved to V2. Federighi called it a "deeper end-to-end architecture that we knew was ultimately what we what we wanted to create to get to the full set of capabilities that we wanted for Siri." An earlier report also suggested that things started falling apart when Apple tried to integrate old Siri code with new. The wait for a supercharged Siri continues. In the meantime, Apple must also deal with the lawsuits that stemmed from its inability to release these features on time.

Apple's AI-infused Siri may not show up until spring 2026

The new version of Siri that was demoed alongside Apple Intelligence might not be released until Spring 2026, Bloomberg reports. Apple officially delayed Siri's release to some time "in the coming year" back in March. The new Siri could be included in a planned iOS 26.4 update next year, which Bloomberg writes will likely arrive in March. Apple announced the smarter and more personal version of Siri at WWDC 2024 over a year ago now, and nearly two years before this hypothetical Spring 2026 release date. The company could demo the updated AI assistant again at its iPhone event in the fall or even release the new Siri early, but timing reportedly remains up in the air. Apple's proposed update to Siri is supposed to give the company's aging voice assistant the authority to take action inside of apps and understand the content and context of your screen. The company's demos showed off Siri referencing emails for flight information and embedding photos in documents, all on its own, as evidence of how much more capable the assistant could be. In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple executives attribute the delay of the new Siri to it simply not being up to the company's standards. Internally, Bloomberg writes that there's also disagreement between Apple's marketing and engineering teams as to who is really at fault. The company shouldn't have hyped up the new Siri at WWDC 2024 or built an ad campaign around features that might not ship (Apple's pulled its Siri ads in March). But the engineering team may have been misleading as to how ready the assistant really was. As testament to how careful Apple is being now, its focus on AI at WWDC 2025 was far more muted. The closest the company got to touching on some of the magic of the new Siri was the updated version of Spotlight that's coming in macOS 26, which can leverage the same App Intents framework Siri is supposed to use to perform select actions in apps, like sending a text in Messages without having to open the app.

Zombie AI Siri May Shuffle Onto iPhones Two Years After It Was First Announced

At this week’s WWDC 2025 keynote, Apple’s senior vice president of software, Craig Federighi, strutted up on stage to the sound of Ratt’s "Round and Round" playing in the background. “Love’ll will find a way, just give it timeâ€| What goes around, comes around,†Stephen Pearcy belted out as Federighi, in his brilliant white mane, stood tall under the spotlight. He immediately went into all the updates that came to Apple Intelligence in 2024 and 2025. But one thing was missing, and Apple knew we were all thinking about it. “We’re continuing to do the work to make Siri even more personal,†Federighi said. “This work needed more time to meet our high quality bar, and we’re excited to tell you more about it in the coming year.†Apple may tell us more about its delayed AI Siri in 2025, but according to the latest rumors, we may not actually see it until spring 2026. Bloomberg’s Apple rumormonger Mark Gurman reported, based on a usual slate of anonymous sources, that the tech giant will offer a personalized, conversational Siri as part of the iOS 26.4 update. If Apple hits the spring 2026 target, that will be close to two full years after Apple first said it was coming at WWDC 2024. For its part, Apple told Bloomberg that some AI upgrades are coming this year. Gurman suggests Apple could share an AI Siri beta sometime in the fall if it meets the company’s “high quality bar.†In the meantime, it’s hoping to tide consumers over with the iOS 26 “Liquid Glass†redesign and Visual Intelligenceâ€"which lets users ask ChatGPT questions about what’s on your screen. At that point, we’ll have already experienced two whole cycles of Google’s increasingly AI-filled Android OS on smartphones. Gemini has long ago overtaken Google Assistant as the phone’s default chatbot. At last month’s Google I/O, the Alphabet-owned company took its AI integration a step further by suggesting people would want to pay for a $250 AI subscription bundle that includes full access to the most advanced version of Gemini along with other perks like NotebookLM and access to its Veo3 model through the Flow filmmaking tool. Compared to the competition, Apple’s AI features seem like small fish in a deep and ever-widening pond. Apple is juggling two sides of its business. Sales analysis shows consumers are largely ambivalent about AI features on phones, and neither Google nor Apple has sold that many more phones because of AI alone. At the same time, investors want Apple to compete in AI with the rest of big tech, damn the consequences and the users who would prefer to not use a chatbot for everything. Apple isn’t its usual stoic self in the wake of the Apple Intelligence delay. Gurman reported that, internally, the engineering side of the company is arguing with the marketing end about who oversold whom. Apple is still working on its own large language modelsâ€"the underlying AI that powers chatbots like ChatGPT. It’s at this point we would hope Apple would try for something truly unique, rather than following in the footsteps of other tech giants. We may not be nearly as enthusiastic about AI-enhanced Siri as much as we just want an assistant that can tell us the weather and check emails without a host of issues cropping up. The best way to smooth over the wrinkles with annoyed Apple fans could be as simple as releasing that Pixar-inspired, AI-powered lamp. At least that will be something we haven’t seen before.

Apple confirms Siri's delayed features won't ship until 2026 - 9to5Mac

In a new interview, Apple executives have narrowed the timeline of when to expect Siri's delayed AI upgrades, confirming they will release in 2026 and no sooner. Here are the details. When Apple first delayed the new Siri features that were supposed to ship in iOS 18, it did so with a fairly vague updated timeline. The company said of the Siri upgrades: "we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year." That was back in March. The language of "the coming year" left many wondering: did that mean before the end of 2025? Or the next 12 months, perhaps? During its WWDC keynote, Apple reiterated this same phrasing, with even more of a potential hedge. Craig Federighi, speaking of the forthcoming "more personal" update to Siri, said: "We look forward to sharing more about it in the coming year." But in a new interview with Craig Federighi and Greg "Joz" Joswiak, Tom's Guide's Mark Spoonauer pushed Apple for a more specific timeline. Spoonauer asked twice if saying '2026' was okay for the anticipated release of Siri's delayed upgrades. After the first ask, Federighi launched into an explanation of what happened that led to the delays. But he didn't quite answer the question. Interestingly, Federighi looked over at Joz after being asked the question, indicating he was deferring to Apple's marketing head to answer. But unless the answer was a slip-up, it seems we can give up hope of Siri's new features arriving later this fall as part of iOS 26, 26.1, or possibly even 26.2. Instead, a release in the spring around iOS 26.4 seems more likely. You can watch the full video interview below. Are you disappointed by the delay for Siri's new AI features? Let us know in the comments.

Bloomberg: Apple targets iOS 26.4 for long-delayed Siri AI upgrade - 9to5Mac

This morning, we noted that in a new interview, Apple's Greg "Joz" Joswiak confirmed that the new AI Siri upgrade would arrive in 2026. Now, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is out with a new report offering more details on the delay, including Apple's internal timeline. According to the report, Apple plans to ship the upgraded Siri experience as part of iOS 26.4, an update typically released in March. The revamped Siri is slated to integrate more deeply with user data and on-screen content, allowing it to perform more contextual, multi-step tasks. Apple declined to confirm the specific timeline, reiterating that the new Siri is slated for release "in the coming year," a phrasing that has long been a point of debate, with some interpreting it as a vague reference to 2025, while others read it as confirmation of a 2026 launch. Internally, the target has slipped multiple times: the original goal was a fall 2024 rollout, followed by early 2025, then May, and now sometime next spring. Per Gurman's reporting on the issue, the delays stemmed from engineering issues, including a buggy hybrid architecture that combined old and new systems, and failed about a third of the time. The setbacks and slow rollout have triggered changes at the executive level. Apple's head of AI, John Giannandrea, has reportedly been sidelined from Siri and other consumer-facing projects following internal friction over missed deadlines. The project is now under the leadership of Craig Federighi and Vision Pro lead Mike Rockwell, with the core tech (dubbed "Siri LLM") undergoing a ground-up rebuild. At WWDC 2025 this week, Federighi acknowledged the Siri delays during Apple's keynote, saying the work "needed more time to reach our high quality bar." However, the company did not offer a public demo or update on Siri itself, focusing instead on the rollout of Apple Intelligence and new developer-facing LLM tools. Looking further ahead, Gurman says Apple has plans for a far more advanced version of Siri, one that functions as a real-time, proactive digital copilot: This would turn the assistant into an always-on device copilot that's more conversational. Apple also has teams exploring a chatbot-like app dubbed Knowledge that can tap into the open web. What exactly that will look like is still unclear, and likely to evolve. But in the meantime, mark your calendars (in pencil) for March 2026 as the earliest realistic window for the new Siri. Assuming, of course, there are no further delays.

Siri 2.0 release window just tipped in new report -- here's when it could arrive

An updated AI-based Siri was promised last year but has been delayed for months. After WWDC 2025, it was still unclear when the overhauled Siri would launch. Now, a report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that Apple is targeting Spring 2026 to launch the upgraded Siri. Apparently, the Siri revamp will come out as part of iOS 26.4. If Apple keeps a similar schedule as iOS 18, that means we could see the public version of iOS 26.4 release at the end of March in 2026. The beta version will likely be available a few weeks before. During WWDC 2025, Tom's Guide global editor in chief Mark Spoonauer was able to sit down with Apple's Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak and discuss the Siri delay. After some internal shuffling, Federighi has reportedly taken over development of Siri. When Apple Intelligence was introduced at WWDC 2024, Siri was supposed to get a number of enhancements, including more conversational experiences and contextual responses. According to Federighi, the company was working on two versions of Siri and found that at least one of the versions wasn't ready, while needing to upgrade the architecture. "We found that the limitations of the V1 architecture weren't getting us to the quality level that we knew our customers needed and expected...if we tried to push that out in the state it was going to be in, it would not meet our customer expectations or Apple standards and we had to move to the V2 architecture," he said. The problems with the two versions and the need to shift to a new "architecture" caused Apple to officially announce that Siri was delayed in March of this year, something the company rarely does. During the talk at WWDC 2025, Apple was mum on a release date. "We will announce the date when we're ready to seed it, and you're all ready to be able to experience it," said Federighi. In the meantime, Apple has opened up its large language models to third-party developers. Previous reports have said that the company has also let its engineers tap into non-Apple AI models to help them improve Apple Intelligence and Siri. It's unclear whether Siri will become a chatbot, akin to Google Gemini or OpenAI's ChatGPT. Apple is saying that it doesn't want to build a chatbot and wants to "meet people where they are" with AI. Apple has openly struggled with Siri, and there's no guarantee that development doesn't hit snags over the next few months. Still, Siri appears to be in capable hands under Federighi's leadership, so we expect it will likely hit its internal deadlines for a spring launch. For now, Apple appears set on improving the Apple Intelligence features that are already available, like Visual Intelligence, while providing new ones that should make an impact across its suite of software including iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe and even the Apple Watch with watchOS 26 and the new Workout Buddy feature. According to Gurman, if things go well, a preview might appear later this fall around the time that the iPhone 17 is launched.

Apple reportedly targets 'spring 2026' for launch of delayed AI Siri upgrade - but is that too late?

As WWDC 2025 comes to a close, a new report claims Apple's major Siri upgrade, powered by Apple Intelligence, is expected to launch in 'spring 2026'. According to Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg, Apple has "set an internal release target of spring 2026 for its delayed upgrade of Siri, marking a key step in its artificial intelligence turnaround effort." Earlier this week, the company showcased the future of iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro software, changing the naming scheme to match the year the OS corresponds to. The "26" moniker of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and visionOS all include AI features, yet Apple's most anticipated one is still missing. Gurman claims the Siri upgrade, which will allow the voice assistant to have on-screen awareness and personal context, is now slated for iOS 26.4, which, based on previous software releases, should arrive around March or April next year. Gurman's sources told him an exact date hasn't been set internally, "beyond a spring time frame." It's also worth noting this time frame could shift, especially considering AI-powered Siri was supposed to launch as part of iOS 18 and was initially unveiled at WWDC 2024. The last year has been rocky for Apple, to say the least. The Cupertino-based company showcased Apple Intelligence back in June 2024, highlighting how "AI for the rest of us" was going to change the way iPhone users interact with their smartphones. Unfortunately, the Apple Intelligence features that have launched, such as Genmoji, Writing Tools, and Visual Intelligence, have all received a somewhat lukewarm response as users wait in anticipation for the truly groundbreaking AI Siri that was promised. My colleague Lance Ulanoff spoke with Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Craig Federighi and Apple Global VP of Marketing Greg Joswiak following WWDC 2025's keynote earlier this week. During the interview (which you can read about and watch here), Federighi said, "We set about for months, making Siri work better and better across more app intents, better and better for doing search," Federighi added. "But fundamentally, we found that the limitations of the V1 architecture weren't getting us to the quality level that we knew our customers needed and expected." This led to Apple postponing the release of Siri's major upgrade in March of this year. Now, we've got a clearer idea of when to expect Siri's Apple Intelligence overhaul, although that's almost another year away, and a year in the world of AI is an incredibly long time. By 'spring 2026', will Apple's competitors like Google and OpenAI have opened the gap even wider? And if so, will Apple have put all this effort into an AI solution that just becomes bloatware on an iPhone as users opt to use Gemini Live or ChatGPT Advanced Voice Mode instead? 'Spring 2026' is just an estimate, but that has to be the latest possible arrival for a much-needed Siri upgrade; any further delays, and I think Apple's loyal user base might get even more frustrated with Tim Cook and co.

Apple's AI rollout leaves Siri behind & long-time fans are asking questions

Apple software chief Craig Federighi confirmed Monday that promised artificial intelligence upgrades to Siri have been delayed, saying the company needs more time to meet quality standards before launching the features in iOS 26. In a WWDC 2025 interview with YouTuber iJustine, Federighi said the new Siri features were working internally but didn't perform well enough to ship. Apple originally previewed major Siri upgrades at WWDC 2024, including more natural conversations, richer contextual understanding, and the ability to perform multi-step actions. At the time, many of those features were expected to ship in 2025. Apple now says they're targeting a rollout sometime in 2026, though no firm release date has been shared. Federighi reiterated Apple's plan to eventually deliver everything it previewed and added that additional improvements are on the way. Siri delays reflect Apple's measured approach to AI While Siri's new capabilities won't arrive until 2026, the company says it's taking its time to ensure reliability and privacy. Most of Apple's artificial intelligence tools are designed to run on-device by default, mostly avoiding cloud-based processing common in competing models. Developers can now access Apple's foundation models through a new API, giving them the ability to integrate natural language features into their apps without relying on external services. Apple's deliberate pace stands in contrast to rapid AI rollouts from Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. With Gemini and Copilot already deeply integrated into competing platforms, expectations for Siri have only grown. Some industry analysts have called Apple's 2025 keynote cautious, noting the absence of high-profile breakthroughs. Still, the company appears to be betting on long-term trust. By delaying Siri until the features meet its quality threshold, Apple avoids shipping half-baked capabilities that could erode confidence in its assistant. The company's message is clear -- better to deliver late than deliver something unreliable. Apple skips The Talk Show for first time in a decade It's not unusual for Apple to talk to iJustine. What is, is that for the first time since 2015, Apple executives didn't appear on The Talk Show with John Gruber during WWDC week. The absence marked the end of a ten-year tradition that gave developers and Apple enthusiasts a rare look at candid conversations with senior leadership. Gruber, who runs Daring Fireball and has hosted Apple figures like Federighi and Greg Joswiak annually, noted the change. He didn't speculate on the reason. The shift may signal a broader change in Apple's media strategy, moving away from its long-standing independent outlets toward more controlled messaging or mass-market platforms. Or, if Occam's Razor holds and the simplest explanation is the right one, Gruber hurt Apple's feelings. We're no stranger to getting shut out by Apple because we've been critical, nor are our friends at 9to5Mac or MacRumors.

Apple's AI-powered Siri reportedly has a new target date. Will it stick this time?

Apple held its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this week and shared a lot of new features coming with the release of the next big updates for all of its devices. One feature that wasn't shown off during the event was the overhauled Siri. Last year, when Apple unveiled its Apple Intelligence, the company planned to have a new, smarter version of Siri out around this time. Instead, it looks like the AI assistant needs some more time to smarten up. Apple's overhauled Siri could come out in spring 2026, according to a report from Bloomberg. The team handling the project reportedly plans to release the smarter assistant in the iOS 26.4 update. During WWDC, Apple said it was changing the numbering scheme for all of its device operating systems to "26" rather than using different numbers based on their release year. The ".4" of the iOS version would also indicate a spring release. Apple typically releases these updates in March, such as with iOS 18.4, following when the new OS makes its debut, which is usually the September before that. Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. The company told Bloomberg it stood by its previous statements, saying the upgraded Siri will come later this year. When Apple showed off its Apple Intelligence at last year's WWDC and launched it officially later in the year, it was seemingly going to put Apple into the AI race. That, however, has not been the case. Apple reportedly continued to hit one snag after another when developing the smart Siri. The pitch was for the digital assistant to have a better understanding of natural language and do more complex tasks by making use of data on the phone, such as making a calendar appointment based on a text rather than having to be told to create that appointment. Apple's initial plan was to release the upgraded Siri in March, but that didn't happen. Instead, there was a leadership reshuffle within the company. Mike Rockwell, the creator of the Vision Pro for the company, ended up replacing John Giannandrea, who was in charge of the team handling the Siri upgrade. Even though Siri wasn't shown at WWDC, Apple did have a few AI features to show off. With iOS 26, the Phone app will have AI-powered call screening to automatically silence scam calls. Apple Intelligence will also provide voicemail summaries. WatchOS 26 will also have a bit of AI with a new Workout Buddy on the Workout app. The AI will keep tabs on your performance, provide some motivation during workouts, and analyze the routine to see how it compares to previous workouts.

Apple Sets Target to Release Delayed Siri AI Update by Spring 2026 | AIM

The update will enhance user interactions by enabling Siri to use personal information to provide tailored responses. Apple has established an internal goal for the long-awaited upgrade of Siri by Spring 2026, Bloomberg reported. This is a significant move in the company's efforts to enhance artificial intelligence. The company's Siri team reportedly intends to introduce the updated voice assistant with the iOS 26.4 software update. The highly anticipated modifications will enable Siri to access users' personal information and on-screen actions to better respond to inquiries. Typically, Apple's .4 updates -- referred to as 'E' in the company's internal software development timeline -- are scheduled for release in March. This has been true for iOS 18.4 this year and iOS 17.4 in 2024. However, an exact date has not yet been confirmed for the software, other than an indication of a spring release, as stated by sources who wished to remain anonymous due to the confidential nature of the project. Apple informed Bloomberg that it has not specified a precise timeline for the new Siri functionalities. The company reiterated previous statements indicating that the enhancements are anticipated in the "coming year". The schedule may still change if unforeseen challenges arise. If the development efforts over the next few weeks yield successful results, the company might contemplate showcasing the features during the next iPhone launch in the fall, as per reports. However, no final decisions have been reached. Nevertheless, AIM earlier reported that Apple's planned Siri upgrade has been postponed until at least 2027. The Apple Intelligence suite was launched last year. Notably, Apple aims to enhance Siri with iOS 19 in 2026, but a fully competitive AI system might not be operational until 2027 or beyond. Recently, at the WWDC 2025, Apple unveiled a series of updates to its artificial intelligence feature suite, Apple Intelligence. These new functionalities will accompany iOS 26 and be accessible to compatible iPhone models later this year. The company announced an integrated live translation feature for messages, FaceTime, and phone applications. As reported by AIM, this feature assists with real-time translation of text messages, phone calls, and audio during FaceTime conversations. Bloomberg earlier reported that there continues to be a discussion regarding the extent of AI capabilities Apple should develop in-house versus what it should outsource to partners such as OpenAI. Moreover, the company has had internal conversations about acquiring smaller startups focused on AI-related technologies.

Apple May Release Advanced Siri With iOS 26.4 Update in Spring 2026

Delay is attributed to issues between legacy and next-gen Siri systems During WWDC 2024, Apple previewed the iOS 18 firmware and a major highlight of the update was shown to be the new artificial intelligence (AI) suite. While many of the showcased features have made their way to the iPhone since then, the highly anticipated Apple Intelligence-powered Siri with contextual awareness and natural language support is yet to be seen. However, a report suggests that the Cupertino-based tech giant has internally set a date for its release and it could happen in the first half of 2026. In a report, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple aims to turn around its fortunes when it comes to its AI progress and an advanced version of Siri for the iPhone will play a big part. It is slated to have an internal release timeline of Spring 2026 withe Apple reportedly targeting a release with the iOS 26.4 update. At WWDC 2025 just a few days prior, the company hinted towards the promised Siri upgrades that are long overdue and reiterated that they would be available in the "coming year", nearly two years from the originally planned launch timeline of Fall 2024. Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple emphasised that it needed "more time to reach our high quality bar". The delay is attributed to the technical challenge faced by Apple. In iOS 18, the company split its AI assistant into two systems; the existing one was retained for fulfilling common tasks like making calls and setting up timers, while a new generation platform was introduced for running upgraded features. The problem surfaced when combining these two architectures, leading to the emergence of bugs, forcing Apple to rebuild Siri from the ground up. The release timeline is still said to be dependent upon any potential snags which Apple runs into during its development. If everything remains as per schedule, Apple could reportedly preview the features alongside the launch of the new iPhone models, ubiquitously known as the iPhone 17 series, during its September launch event. However, this is just speculation and there is no final word yet. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Gurman notes that there remains an internal tussle between the various teams at Apple. The software development team which worked on the AI features is said to have pointed fingers at the marketing team for "overhyping" the features during the keynote and subsequent teasers, while the latter says it followed the timelines provided by the former.

Apple Execs Insist The Personalized Siri Demo Was Genuine, Saying The Feature Was 'Real' And 'Working,' But It Was Delayed Due To Reliability Concerns, Says Federighi And Joswiak

Apple announced its iOS 26 update earlier this week with the new Liquid Glass design language, which has sparked mixed reviews in the tech community. The company's implementation is pretty neat, with layers of digital glass that refract light at different angles. To promote the new software updates, Apple's software engineering chief Craig Federighi and marketing chief Greg Joswiak are on a media tour this week, and in a new interview, the executives shared details on the delayed Personalized Siri features. In a new interview with The Wall Street Journal, Joanna Stern asked if the company had a working version of the delayed Personalized Siri feature, which was demonstrated at last year's WWDC. According to Federighi, the Personalized Siri feature that they were working with was "real" and "working." "We were filming real working software, with a real large language model, with real semantic search, that's what you saw," said Federighi. "There's this narrative out there that it was demoware only," added Joswiak. "No." Apple showcased the feature last year at its WWDC event, and it was one of the most prominent additions that would have shaped Apple Intelligence to this day. However, the company saw fit to delay the feature until next year after various considerations. The update was delayed numerous times before it was shelved for next year. The feature is yet to be unveiled to the public, but based on initial impressions, Personalized Siri would have redefined usability on the iPhone. The company executives claim that the feature was delayed due to quality issues, but the feature does exist, and it was not demoware by any means, according to Joswiak. Apple will potentially announce the feature in early 2025, possibly with the iOS 26.4 update. For those who are unfamiliar with the Personalized Siri feature, it basically understood a user's personal context, had on-screen awareness, and deeper in-app integration. The feature could access controls from within apps, and it would have made Siri smarter than ever, something that it struggles with to this day. Other than this, the executives also shared details on Apple Intelligence and much more, which you can check out in the full interview. Craig Federighi also stated that no other company is doing well in the AI sector when it comes to automating capabilities on-device, and Apple wanted to be the first, but the quality standards were not achieved. There will be a full version of the source's story, so stick around for more details.

Is Apple Delaying Smarter Siri Yet Again?

Apple has once again postponed the release of updates aimed at making Siri a more advanced and capable virtual assistant. This decision, announced without a clear timeline for rollout, has sparked questions about Apple's ability to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving virtual assistant market. As rivals like Amazon and Google continue to push the boundaries of artificial intelligence (AI), the delay raises concerns about Siri's future and Apple's position in the broader AI landscape. The video below from SaranByte gives us more information. The delay is particularly significant given the increasing reliance on virtual assistants to simplify daily tasks and enhance user experiences. With Siri's updates on hold, Apple risks falling behind competitors who are already delivering more sophisticated and user-friendly solutions. The postponed updates were expected to introduce substantial advancements to Siri's AI capabilities, promising to make the assistant more intuitive, responsive, and versatile. These updates were anticipated to include: By delaying these updates, Apple has left users waiting for improvements that could significantly enhance their experience with Siri. For now, Siri remains largely unchanged, which may frustrate users who expect their virtual assistant to evolve alongside their needs. This stagnation could also impact Apple's ability to retain users who might seek more advanced alternatives. The delay comes at a critical time when competition in the virtual assistant market is intensifying. Rivals such as Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant are consistently raising the bar with innovative features, including: These advancements have positioned Alexa and Google Assistant as leaders in the market, offering users a more dynamic and personalized experience. By postponing Siri's updates, Apple risks losing ground to these competitors, who are already delivering innovative solutions. This delay could make it increasingly difficult for Siri to remain a compelling choice for users seeking advanced AI-powered assistance. For many users, the value of a virtual assistant lies in its ability to simplify tasks, provide accurate information, and integrate seamlessly with other devices. Smarter Siri features, such as improved natural language processing and advanced voice recognition, could significantly enhance its utility. These updates would: Without these advancements, Siri risks falling short of user expectations, especially as competitors continue to innovate. Users increasingly demand virtual assistants that can anticipate their needs, adapt to their preferences, and provide seamless integration across devices. Apple's delay in delivering these features could erode user confidence in Siri's ability to meet these demands. The delay in smarter Siri updates also raises broader questions about Apple's approach to artificial intelligence. While Apple has made strides in areas like privacy-focused machine learning, its progress in virtual assistant technology appears slower compared to its competitors. Several factors may be contributing to this lag, including: These challenges highlight the complexities of balancing innovation with Apple's core values, such as privacy and security. However, the slower pace of Siri's evolution could jeopardize Apple's competitive edge in the AI-driven virtual assistant market. To remain relevant, Apple must address these challenges and accelerate its efforts to enhance Siri's capabilities. Apple has yet to provide a clear timeline for the release of the smarter Siri updates, leaving users uncertain about when they can expect meaningful improvements. In the meantime, competitors like Amazon and Google are likely to capitalize on this delay by further advancing their own virtual assistants and attracting users with more innovative features. For Apple, the delay underscores the urgency of staying competitive in the virtual assistant market. To maintain its position as a leader in technology, the company will need to overcome the obstacles slowing Siri's development and deliver updates that meet user expectations. This will require a strategic focus on innovation, user experience, and seamless integration across Apple's ecosystem. As the virtual assistant landscape continues to evolve, Apple's ability to adapt and innovate will determine Siri's future relevance and its role in shaping the next generation of AI-powered tools. Below are more guides on Siri updates from our extensive range of articles.

Where Was Siri 2.0 at WWDC 2025?

Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 was one of the most anticipated events in the tech industry, with many expecting the unveiling of Siri 2.0. Marketed as a new evolution of Apple's virtual assistant, Siri 2.0 was set to redefine how you interact with Apple's ecosystem. However, the event took a surprising turn, revealing delays, technical challenges, and strategic adjustments that left developers and consumers with mixed reactions. These developments shed light on the complexities of advancing artificial intelligence (AI) while maintaining Apple's core principles of privacy and reliability. The video below from Matt Talks Tech gives us more details. Before WWDC 2025, Apple had painted an ambitious picture of Siri 2.0. The upgrade was expected to introduce enhanced natural language processing, improved contextual understanding, and seamless integration across Apple's suite of devices. The vision was to create a virtual assistant that felt more human-like, intuitive, and capable of handling complex, multi-step tasks. For developers, Siri 2.0 promised new APIs and tools to expand its functionality into third-party applications. This would have opened up opportunities to create more personalized and dynamic user experiences. The excitement surrounding Siri 2.0 was fueled by the belief that it could significantly enhance your daily interactions with Apple's ecosystem, from managing smart home devices to organizing your schedule with greater precision. Despite the high expectations, Apple announced that Siri 2.0 would not be ready for release as planned. The delay was attributed to technical challenges in integrating advanced AI models into Apple's ecosystem. One of the primary hurdles was making sure that the new AI features adhered to Apple's stringent data privacy standards. Apple's commitment to protecting your personal information is a cornerstone of its brand, and any compromise on this front could undermine user trust. Another significant challenge was the complexity of training AI to handle nuanced, multi-step commands across multiple languages and contexts. This required extensive testing and optimization to ensure Siri 2.0 could deliver the speed and accuracy you expect. These obstacles proved more demanding than initially anticipated, prompting Apple to delay the rollout to refine the technology further. Integrating advanced AI into Siri while maintaining Apple's privacy-first approach is a monumental task. Unlike competitors who rely heavily on cloud-based systems, Apple prioritizes on-device processing to protect your data. While this approach aligns with Apple's values, it introduces additional technical complexities. On-device processing requires Apple to optimize its hardware and software for computational efficiency, which can slow down development compared to rivals who prioritize speed over privacy. This balancing act between innovation and reliability has been a defining factor in Siri 2.0's delay. Apple's engineers must ensure that the virtual assistant not only meets performance expectations but also upholds the company's commitment to safeguarding your privacy. This dual focus adds layers of complexity to the development process, making it a slower but more deliberate journey. The developer community has had mixed reactions to the Siri 2.0 announcement. On one hand, Apple's transparency about the delays has been appreciated, as it allows developers to adjust their plans and manage expectations. This openness reflects Apple's recognition of the importance of maintaining trust within its developer ecosystem. However, some developers have expressed frustration over the lack of immediate updates or tools to improve Siri's integration with third-party applications. The absence of a clear timeline for Siri 2.0's release has created uncertainty, particularly as competitors like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa continue to expand their capabilities. For developers, this delay represents a missed opportunity to innovate and deliver enhanced experiences to users. The delay in Siri 2.0 underscores the intense competition in the virtual assistant market. Rivals such as Google and Amazon have been quick to use advancements in generative AI, introducing features that currently outpace Siri's capabilities. These competitors have focused on rapid innovation, often prioritizing speed and functionality over privacy considerations. For Apple, the delay risks losing ground in a market where user engagement and loyalty are driven by innovative features. However, Apple's focus on long-term reliability and privacy could ultimately differentiate Siri 2.0 from its competitors. If privacy and data security are priorities for you, Apple's approach may resonate more strongly, even if it takes longer to deliver the promised advancements. Despite the setbacks, Apple remains committed to advancing its AI capabilities. The company has outlined a vision for Siri that includes deeper integration across its ecosystem, from smart home devices to health and wellness applications. This broader strategy emphasizes creating cohesive, user-centric experiences rather than rushing to match competitors' feature sets. Apple's deliberate approach suggests that the company is prioritizing quality over speed. While the timeline for Siri 2.0 remains uncertain, the focus on privacy, reliability, and seamless integration could redefine the role of virtual assistants in your daily life. By addressing the challenges of AI integration with care and precision, Apple aims to deliver a product that not only meets but exceeds your expectations. WWDC 2025 provided a glimpse into both the potential and the challenges of advancing virtual assistant technology. While the delay in Siri 2.0's rollout may feel like a setback, it also reflects Apple's commitment to thoughtful innovation. The company's focus on privacy, reliability, and user-centric design could ultimately shape the future of virtual assistants in ways that prioritize your needs and values. As Apple continues to navigate the complexities of AI integration, its long-term strategy may redefine not only Siri's capabilities but also the broader landscape of virtual assistant technology. For now, the wait continues, but the promise of a more intuitive, secure, and reliable Siri remains on the horizon. Below are more guides on Siri 2.0 from our extensive range of articles.

Report: Apple Aims to Release AI-Powered Upgrade of Siri in Spring 2026 | PYMNTS.com

By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions. The new Siri features could be previewed in the fall before being released in the spring, Bloomberg reported Thursday (June 12), citing unnamed sources. When asked by Bloomberg about the release date, Apple said it hasn't announced an exact date but noted that it said earlier that the Siri upgrades are planned for the "coming year." Apple originally announced the features it planned to add to Siri in June 2024, according to the Bloomberg report. These capabilities were marketed last year and were set to be launched in fall 2024. The company's targeted release date was later shifted to spring 2025 and then, in March, postponed to sometime in the coming year, the report said. Over that time, technical challenges led to Siri being rebuilt entirely and management responsibilities being shifted around within Apple, per the report. One of the new heads of engineering for Siri, software engineering chief Craig Federighi, said this week at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference, per the report: "This work needed more time to reach our high quality bar, and we look forward to sharing more about it in the coming year." Apple CEO Tim Cook said May 1, during the company's quarterly earnings call, that Apple needs "more time" to upgrade Siri's AI capabilities, PYMNTS reported at the time. "We are making progress, and we look forward to getting these features into customers' hands," Cook said. When pressed by an analyst to specify reasons for the delay, Cook said, "There's not a lot of other reasons. ... It's just taking a bit longer than we thought." It was reported Sunday (June 8) that employees who had recently departed the company said Apple has been hit by challenges in updating Siri with the use of cutting-edge large language models (LLMs) that can provide more sophisticated responses to spoken prompts. Apple's restrained approach to innovation in generative AI stands in contrast to rivals like Amazon, Google and Microsoft, which are embracing LLMs and enterprise-scale AI solutions in aggressive and sometimes experimental ways, PYMNTS reported Monday (June 9).

Apple's Siri AI upgrade may not arrive until spring 2026

The new version of Siri will likely roll out with the iOS 26.4 update. Apple is reportedly planning to release its delayed Siri upgrade in spring 2026. The new version of Siri, which is expected to be more intelligent and capable, will likely roll out with the iOS 26.4 update. This marks a major step in Apple's attempt to improve its artificial intelligence offerings after falling behind rivals. According to Bloomberg, the company's Siri team is aiming to include the revamped voice assistant in its ".4" iOS update -- a version that usually releases around March. However, the timeline isn't final yet and could change depending on development progress. The upgrade was first announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2024. It's designed to make Siri smarter by allowing it to access personal information and understand what's happening on the screen, so it can respond to user queries more accurately. A feature called App Intents will also let Siri control more in-app actions across Apple devices. Also read: Meta sues AI app maker for running nudify ads on Facebook and Instagram Apple had originally planned to launch the new Siri in late 2024, according to the report. But the release was pushed multiple times. One of the biggest technical issues came from using two different systems for Siri. Apple kept the old system for basic tasks like setting timers and calling, while trying to add a newer platform for advanced features. This caused bugs and required the team to rebuild Siri's core system. Also read: Google rolls out Android 16 with iPhone-style live updates, better hearing aid support and smarter notifications As per the report, there have also been internal disagreements between Apple's AI and marketing teams over how the Siri upgrade was promoted. The engineering team has pointed fingers at marketing for overhyping the features, while the marketing side claims they worked based on timelines given by the company's AI teams. If development goes smoothly in the coming months, Apple might preview the upgraded Siri when it unveils the next iPhones in the fall -- but that decision hasn't been finalised yet.

Apple targets spring 2026 for revamped Siri AI upgrade amid mounting pressure and OpenAI dependence

Apple is reportedly aiming to launch its much-awaited Siri upgrade in spring 2026, after facing repeated delays. The upgraded version of Siri is expected to roll out with the iOS 26.4 update, which usually arrives around March. This upgrade is part of Apple's larger push to catch up in the AI race, especially as rivals like Google and OpenAI continue to move ahead. According to Bloomberg, Apple's Siri team is now focused on making sure the new features are ready in time for the '.4' iOS update, though the exact timeline could still change depending on progress. The upgraded Siri was first announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024. It promises to offer a more intelligent experience by accessing personal information and understanding what's on the screen. This would allow Siri to better answer questions and complete tasks with more context. Also read: Inside Apple's secret test lab: How iPhones are built to survive the real world Apple originally planned to release the upgraded Siri in late 2024. However, the project was delayed multiple times due to technical challenges. One major issue was Apple's use of two different systems: One for basic functions like setting alarms, and another for advanced features. This led to bugs and forced Apple's engineers to rebuild parts of Siri from the ground up. The report also highlights internal disagreements between Apple's AI and marketing teams. Engineers believe the marketing team overhyped features, while marketers say they simply followed the development timelines they were given. Also read: How to install iOS 26 on your iPhone: Eligible devices, new features, and more Another challenge for Apple is deciding how much of the AI technology it should develop in-house and how much it should rely on outside partners like OpenAI, according to the report. The company has even discussed the idea of buying smaller AI startups. If everything goes according to plan, Apple might give users a preview of the revamped Siri when it launches the next iPhones in fall 2025 but that decision hasn't been confirmed yet.