Apple Delays AI-Powered Siri Upgrade to 2026, Citing Quality Concerns

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.