Apple's Siri AI upgrade hits another snag, pushing key features to late 2026 or beyond

Stay Patient, Apple Fans: Siri AI Delayed Again to Late 2026 at the Earliest

It's Groundhog Day for Siri yet again, as Apple plans another in a long series of delays to the Siri AI upgrade, according to a Bloomberg report released on Wednesday. According to Bloomberg sources from inside Apple, the reinvented Siri voice assistant, including AI features reminiscent of Alexa Plus, has been delayed from the March iPhone iOS 24.6 update to a release later this year, potentially in May, September or later. A representative from Apple didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Following repeated delays after announcing the advanced Siri in 2024, Apple gave a broad 2026 timeline for releasing the new voice assistant, widely expected to be included in iOS 26.4. Now, Bloomberg reports that the latest internal testing shows Siri still isn't up to the task and is likely to remain out of reach for consumers for now. This current version of Siri uses an architecture dubbed Linwood, combining Apple's own large language model with technology from Google's Gemini AI. The mix is expected to add AI tools such as new web searches and image generation, as well as a chatbot-style Siri AI (code-named Campo), initially slated for iOS 27. Much of what Bloomberg reports in this latest release is similar to what we heard last year. The new Siri is too slow, struggles with complex commands, and isn't meshing well with Apple's own AI models or with services like ChatGPT. But there are a few new rumors here that show a more complete picture: I've already been experimenting with Alexa Plus and Gemini for Home for months, and I like the results so far. Alexa Plus, in particular (free for Prime users and casual chatters, $20 for the complete package), is much more conversational, understands complex commands, and can tap into brand-new third-party app integrations. Gemini for Home, meanwhile, excels at answering multi-step questions in the app and analyzing video footage. That raises the question of why Apple's own venture into this space has taken so long. While I can't read the minds of Apple devs, it's clear that Apple invested less in LLMs and generative AI than Google and Amazon did at the start, and is now moving very cautiously into this technology. Given that Alexa Plus doesn't always know what it can or can't do and Gemini for Home still struggles with voice chats, I can see why Apple may want to wait for a highly polished product. Since Apple has been delaying these advanced versions of Siri for well over a year already, it's clear the company has no problem taking its time and finding a version of Siri AI it's happy with. According to Bloomberg's report, we could start seeing betas for these new Siri features in iOS 26.5 or iOS 27 as the slow climb to public release continues.

Apple's Latest Attempt to Launch the New Siri Runs Into Snags

Apple Inc.'s long-planned upgrade to the Siri virtual assistant has run into snags during testing in recent weeks, potentially pushing back the release of several highly anticipated functions. After planning to include the new capabilities in iOS 26.4 -- an operating system update slated for March -- Apple is now working to spread them out over future versions, according to people familiar with the matter. That would mean possibly postponing at least some features until at least iOS 26.5, due in May, and iOS 27, which comes out in September. The latest hitches are part of a long and trying saga for Apple, which first announced plans for the revamped Siri in June 2024. That year, the iPhone maker showed off capabilities that would let the assistant tap into personal data and on-screen content to better fulfill requests. The upgraded Siri also would let users precisely control apps from Apple and third parties via their voice. All the new features were due by early 2025. In the spring of last year, Apple delayed the rollout, saying the new Siri would instead arrive in 2026. It never announced more specific timing. Internally, though, Apple settled on the March 2026 target -- tying it to iOS 26.4 -- a goal that remained in place as recently as last month. But testing uncovered fresh problems with the software, prompting the latest postponements, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the deliberations are private. Siri doesn't always properly process queries or can take too long to handle requests, they said. It remains a fluid situation, and Apple's plans may change further. A spokesperson for the Cupertino, California-based company declined to comment. Apple shares pared their gains on the news Wednesday. The stock was up 1.1% to $276.71 as of 2:52 p.m. in New York after earlier climbing as high as 2.4%. In recent days, Apple instructed engineers to use the upcoming iOS 26.5 in order to test new Siri features, implying that the functionality may have been moved back by at least one release. Internal versions of that update now include a notice describing the addition of some Siri enhancements. One feature is especially likely to slip: the expanded ability for Siri to tap into personal data. That technology would let users ask the assistant to, say, search old text messages to locate a podcast shared by a friend and immediately play it. Internal iterations of iOS 26.5 also include a settings toggle allowing employees to enable a "preview" of that functionality. That suggests Apple is weighing the idea of warning users that the initial launch is incomplete or may not work reliably -- similar to what it does with beta tests of new operating systems. Other features running behind include the most advanced commands for voice-based control of in-app actions, a system known as app intents. It would let people ask Siri to find an image, edit it and send it to a contact -- all in a single command. Apple employees testing iOS 26.5 say early support for these features exists, but they don't function reliably in all cases. Testers have also reported accuracy issues, as well as a bug that causes Siri to cut users off when they're speaking too quickly. And there are problems handling complex queries that require longer processing times. Another challenge: The new Siri sometimes falls back on its existing integration with OpenAI's ChatGPT instead of using Apple's own technology. That can happen even when Siri should be capable of handling the request. As recently as late 2025, internal versions of the new Siri were so sluggish that people involved in development believed the company would need to delay the introduction by months. Executives have long been steadfast within Apple that they don't want the release of something announced in June 2024 to slip past spring 2026. Even in recent weeks, Apple had still been planning an unveiling this month. But it's been a complex undertaking. The revamped Siri is built on an entirely new architecture dubbed Linwood. Its software will rely on the company's large language model platform -- known as Apple Foundations Models -- which is now incorporating technology from Alphabet Inc.'s Google Gemini team. Current test versions of iOS 26.5 also include two additional features that the company hasn't yet announced: a new web search tool and custom image generation. Apple has tested these abilities as part of iOS 26.4 as well, implying that some of the new Siri features could still arrive on the earlier timeline. The web search feature functions similarly to tools like Perplexity or the Gemini section of Google's search engine. It lets users request information from the web and receive a synthesized response, a list of summarized details and links to relevant websites. The image-generation capability uses the same engine as Apple's Image Playground app, though people who have tested iOS 26.5 say the feature remains finicky. Beyond those upgrades, Apple is also developing a major new AI initiative for iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27: a fully overhauled Siri that operates more like a chatbot. It will be powered by Google servers and a more advanced custom Gemini model. Code-named "Campo," the effort aims to deeply integrate AI across Apple's operating systems, offering an interface and functions aligned with expectations shaped by ChatGPT-style assistants. Apple is also testing the system through a standalone Siri app, allowing users to manage prior chatbot interactions. A significant part of the next-generation Siri interface is being able to control features across the operating system and locate personal data like files. Apple is also planning to leverage the new Siri engine in some of its major in-house apps, including Mail, Calendar and Safari. Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook hinted at even more changes down the road during an all-hands meeting with employees last week, saying that the company was working on new data-center chips to bolster its AI capabilities. "Apple silicon is enabling us to build data center solutions that are tailor-made for our devices," Cook said. "I will say that, going forward, the work we're doing is going to enable an entirely new class of products and services." Cook was likely referring to Baltra, a long-running project to develop high-performance chips for cloud-based AI processing. One reason Apple's personal-data features may be taking longer to develop is the company's strict privacy stance. During the same meeting, software engineering head Craig Federighi emphasized that personalized AI must not expose user data. "We think it's super important that when a model takes a question from you, that that data is kept private," he said, adding that the "standard in the industry is to send that data to a server where it is logged, exposed to the company and used for training." Instead, Apple is "leading the way" on AI that either remains on users' devices or goes to privacy-protecting servers, Federighi said. The company also relies on licensed information and synthetic data -- which is generated artificially to mimic real-world inputs -- rather than material taken directly from users, he said. "When you put all these things together, we're able to provide a personal and super powerful experience to build the types of experiences that get deeper and deeper into our lives," he said, adding that he believes Apple's approach will ultimately be adopted across the industry.

Apple's Siri relaunch is reportedly behind schedule

Apple's long-delayed AI-powered Siri redesign may not be rolling out this year, at least in the way the company had planned. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple found problems with its software upon testing, such as the virtual assistant taking too long to accomplish tasks or even not processing queries properly altogether. Siri's new version was also reportedly so sluggish during testing that its developers believed Apple would have to push back its launch by months. Instead of releasing the redesigned assistant in March as was previously reported, Gurman says Apple will roll out its capabilities piecemeal over future software updates. The company originally unveiled the redesigned Siri back in 2024, promising an AI-powered assistant that can do tasks for you, such as finding specific photos or tracking details, adding information to contact cards, editing photos and sharing note summaries to be sent as emails. It was slated to make its way to iOS users in 2025, but Apple announced that year that it was going to be delayed. "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," the company said. Bloomberg reported back then that the new AI-infused Siri was going to be included in a planned iOS 26.4 update due in March instead. Based on this latest report, however, we might only get a portion of Siri's new capabilities next month. More capabilities could be released with iOS 26.5 in May and with iOS 27 later this year. In January this year, Apple confirmed reports that Google's Gemini models will help power the new Siri. "After careful evaluation, Apple determined that Google's Al technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models and is excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for Apple users," the company said in a statement. The revamped assistant is expected to behave like an AI chatbot, similar to OpenAI's ChatGPT, when it does become available.

Long Delayed Siri Functions Are Reportedly Being Delayed Once Again Because They're Slow and Inaccurate

Mark Gurman, Bloomberg's Apple scoops guy, says the development of the latest version of Siri is not looking good in tests. It's apparently going badly enough that Apple will release only a partial version when the updated voice assistant debuts in the next version of iOS. To be clear, the iOS 26.4 update is still expected to arrive next month, and it’s still expected to have a new version of Siri, but it may be a bit of a letdown. That’s not good for Apple. Perhaps you’ll recall that Apple has been advertising a version of Siri that works as a smart, seamless, automated personal assistant in your pocket for a long time. Apple even made a commercial about this with Bella Ramsey released in fall of 2024: But that ad had to be pulled because Apple couldn’t ship a real-life version of what it depicted. Asking Siri questions as if it’s a chatbot and then getting good answers drawn from your information across multiple apps is a function that certainly feels possible based on existing technology. But it's now 2026 and Apple still hasn’t released that version of Siri. And as I wrote late last month, Apple is perceived as needing to notch a win in the AI area after falling way behind Google in AI authority. The AI model driving the new, still unreleased, Siri is essentially rented from Google for $1 billion per year. And who knows, perhaps Google's model is the culprit behind the latest problems with Siri, but it’s hard to picture consumers blaming Google if Apple can’t execute a solid new Siri product. Gurman’s sources tell him tests of the new Siri found that it processes queries incorrectly, and that it sometimes takes “too longâ€â€"too long for what? We don’t get to know, but it’s clearly slow. Gurman points to the feature from the Bella Ramsey ad in which the AI mines answers from your personal data, and answers questions like "What was that Greek restaurant Larry told me to try?" as one likely to be delayed past iOS 26.4. If it's iOS 26.5 that eventually gets the Bella Ramsey version of Siri, and the user interface ends up being designed like the working version of that operating system that Apple employees are using to perform tests, Gurman says there may be an optional toggle allowing the user to "preview" that new Siri version, meaning it'll be framed as something that the user can try at their own peril. So ostensibly, these Siri features aren’t being cancelled or eliminated, but delayed. Apple will, Gurman says, release some sort of partial Siri update in March with iOS 26.4, and then the rest of the new Siri features will be sprinkled into the 26.5 update in May, and the larger update to iOS 27 in September, when the iPhone 18 line is scheduled to roll out. Though this “remains a fluid situation, and Apple’s plans may change further,†Gurman writes. Apparently, according to Gurman, another delayed feature will be Siri-based voice controls for "App Intents," a new framework for controlling apps that Apple says will perform an "increasingly critical role within Apple's developer platforms." This delay may not be grieved by developers, who, judging from X posts, don't seem super eager to figure out how to use it.

Apple reportedly pushing back Gemini-powered Siri features beyond iOS 26.4 - 9to5Mac

Despite inking with a deal with Google to use Gemini AI as the brains behind upgraded Siri, Apple is reportedly facing internal challenges at getting the final product ready for primetime. The reported delays could stretch into iOS 27 this fall. Apple first announced a more capable version of Siri that hasn't shipped yet in 2024. Mark Gurman, reporting for Bloomberg: After planning to include the new capabilities in iOS 26.4 -- an operating system update slated for March -- Apple is now working to spread them out over future versions, according to people familiar with the matter. That would mean possibly postponing at least some features until at least iOS 26.5, due in May, and iOS 27, which comes out in September. Gurman notes that while Apple hasn't promised a ship date more specific than this year, the company has been eyeing iOS 26.4 around March as the release target. Instead, the company is now considering iOS 26.5 as a likely target: One feature is especially likely to slip: the expanded ability for Siri to tap into personal data. That technology would let users ask the assistant to, say, search old text messages to locate a podcast shared by a friend and immediately play it. The report also says that "voice-based control of in-app actions" is running behind, although these features should still arrive as part of an update to iOS 26. Apple only officially reached its deal to work with Google's Gemini AI models in January. Prior to reaching that agreement, Apple was considering its own models as well as options from Anthropic before settling on Google as a technology provider. Beyond the initial Siri upgrades that will be powered by Gemini, Gurman has also reported that Apple will treat Siri more like a chatbot in iOS 27.

Apple confirms Siri 2.0 is still coming in 2026: Here's what that means for your iPhone

Apple's AI-upgraded Siri 2.0 assistant might be seeing some release issues, but Apple still plans to release it this year. In a comment made to CNBC, Apple stated that it's still on track to release Siri 2.0 in 2026, but it wasn't forthcoming with a specific date. However, while prior rumors had stated that the update could launch as part of iOS 26.4, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed yesterday that the company was unlikely to have the updated assistant ready in time. All of this follows what could best be called an utter nightmare of a rollout for Apple Intelligence. Apple first announced the new Siri at WWDC 2024, alongside features like Writing Tools and Genmoji. Unfortunately, the Siri update has seen frequent delays in many of the promised features, including the ability to recall personal data and even log in to apps for you. However, certain aspects were included in iOS 26, including improved Visual Intelligence and Live Translation. Apple's issues with Siri 2.0 and Apple Intelligence are multifaceted. But it all boils down to Apple's late adoption of generative AI compared to the competition, which has led to relatively slow progress. This is an issue because, in the current smartphone market, a key advertising strategy is to promote AI features over improved hardware. As such, Apple has seemingly had no choice but to announce features before they're ready, which can be seen as an adaptation to the latest tech trend. Another issue facing Apple is its commitment to on-device processing to help maintain user privacy. On the surface, this makes a lot of sense, especially as the result should be faster than relying on external servers alone while also protecting user data. So, with all that in mind, when can we likely expect Siri 2.0 to make an appearance? At this point, it's hard to say, but a reasonable assumption would be the release of iOS 27, which is expected to be announced in the Summer. However, the release of Siri 2.0 might be held until the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, which is expected for September of this year.

Apple just can't get Siri working right

Apple just can't seem to get its new Siri off the ground. A new report from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg says that testing of the big Siri overhaul due in iOS 26.4 (soon to enter beta, with a release planned for March) will instead be spread out over the rest of the year. At this point, it's hard to have confidence that important planned features won't be delayed further. Gurman's sources tell him that testing has "run into snags in recent weeks" and that some of the features will be delayed to iOS 26.5 (due in May) or iOS 27 (due in September). To recap the timeline: Apple announced iOS 18 at WWDC in June of 2024, promoting three major new Siri enhancements: the creation of a personal profile that uses personalized data to add context to queries, the ability to understand what is on the screen at the moment, and the ability to perform many actions across both Apple and third-party apps. The company even ran TV ads promoting these features in advance of the iPhone 16 release. But the software wasn't ready, and got bumped back to a spring release, targeting iOS 18.4. Apple then missed that window, pushing the features back to an unspecified future date that inside sources revealed to be iOS 27. The latest update targeted iOS 26.4, due for release next month. Apple was set to release a new Siri built using foundation technology from Google's Gemini, which would include the features promised in 2024. It would also introduce an even smarter and more capable Siri, with a more powerful Gemini-based foundation, as a complete conversational chatbot in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS 27 this fall. Now, it looks like iOS 26.4 might get some of the new features, with some others pushed back into iOS 26.5 and even iOS 27. The Siri update planned for next month "doesn't always properly process queries or can take too long to handle requests," according to Gurman's sources. The situation remains fluid and can change, but the "personal context" feature seems especially likely to slip. It would have allowed you to make a requests like "play that podcast Mike was telling me about last month" and it would search Messages for the appropriate conversation and play the linked podcast. You could say "what time does mom's flight get in?" and it would know who your mother is from your Contacts and Messages, find the recent flight info in your Messages or Mail, and look up the current flight info. Engineers working on iOS 26.5 now have a settings toggle to enable a "preview" of that personal context functionality, according to the report. Also being tested in iOS 26.5 is the system of expanded app intents for performing in-app actions, but "they don't function reliably in all cases." There are general problems, too. The new Siri apparently has a bug that cuts people off when they're speaking too quickly, and has trouble with accuracy and long processing times for more complex queries. Oh, and Siri sometimes falls back on the existing ChatGPT integration even when it's something that Siri should be able to answer. Apple is said to be testing a couple of new features as part of iOS 26.5: a new custom image generator and a web search tool. The image generator uses the same foundation as Apple's Image Playground feature, which is currently far behind competitors. The web search tool performs much like Perplexity or Google's AI web search feature: it finds what you want on the web and provides a synthesized summary. It all seems to be going rather poorly at the moment, with some features sure to slip further and even those that aren't not quite working as well as we would all like. Don't be surprised if Apple turns the new Siri into a sort of opt-in "beta" to save face.

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. The next-generation version of Siri will use advanced large language models, similar to those used by ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. Apple isn't implementing full chatbot interactions, but any upgrade is both better than what's available now and long overdue. Right now, Siri uses machine learning, but it doesn't have the reasoning capabilities that LLM models impart. Siri relies on multiple task-specific models to complete a request, going from one step to another. Siri has to determine the intent of a request, pull out relevant information (a time, an event, a name, etc), and then use APIs or apps to complete the request. It's not an all-in-one system. In iOS 26.4, Siri will have an LLM core that everything else is built around. Instead of just translating voice to text and looking for keywords to execute on, Siri will actually understand the specifics of what a user is asking, and use reasoning to get it done. Siri today is usually fine for simple tasks like setting a timer or alarm, sending a text message, toggling a smart home device on or off, answering a simple question, or controlling a device function, but it doesn't understand anything more complicated, it can't complete multi-step tasks, it can't interpret wording that's not in the structure it wants, it has no personal context, and it doesn't support follow-up questions. An LLM should solve most of those problems because Siri will have something akin to a brain. LLMs can understand the nuance of a request, suss out what it is someone actually wants, and take the steps to deliver that information or complete the requested action. We already know some of what LLM Siri will be able to do because Apple described the Apple Intelligence features it wants to implement when iOS 18 debuted. Apple described three specific ways that Siri will improve, including personal context, the ability to see what's on the screen to know what the user is talking about, and the capability to do more in and between apps. Siri will understand pronouns, references to content on the screen and in apps, and it will have a short-term memory for follow-up requests. With personal context, Siri will be able to keep track of emails, messages, files, photos, and more, learning more about you to help you complete tasks and keep track of what you've been sent. Onscreen awareness will let Siri see what's on your screen and complete actions involving whatever you're looking at. If someone texts you an address, for example, you can tell Siri to add it to their contact card. Or if you're looking at a photo and want to send it to someone, you can ask Siri to do it for you. Deeper app integration means that Siri will be able to do more in and across apps, performing actions and completing tasks that are just not possible with the personal assistant right now. We don't have a full picture of what Siri will be capable of, but Apple has provided a few examples of what to expect. In an all-hands meeting in August 2025, Apple software engineering chief Craig Federighi explained the Siri debacle to employees. Apple had attempted to merge two separate systems, which didn't work out. There was one system for handling current commands and another based on large language models, and the hybrid approach was not working due to the confines of the current Siri architecture. The only way forward was to upgrade to the second-generation architecture built around a large language model. In the August meeting, Federighi said Apple had successfully revamped Siri, and that Apple would be able to introduce a bigger upgrade than it promised in iOS 18. "The work we've done on this end-to-end revamp of Siri has given us the results we needed," Federighi told employees. "This has put us in a position to not just deliver what we announced, but to deliver a much bigger upgrade than that we envisioned." Part of Apple's problem was that it was relying on AI models that it built in-house, and that were not able to match the capabilities of competitors. Apple started considering using a third-party model for Siri and other future AI features shortly after delaying Siri, and in January, Apple announced a multi-year partnership with Google. For the foreseeable future, Apple's AI features, including the more personalized version of Siri, will use a custom model Apple built in collaboration with Google's Gemini team. Apple plans to continue work on its own in-house models, but for now, it will rely on Gemini for many public-facing features. Siri in iOS 26.4 will be more similar to Google Gemini than Siri today, though without full chatbot capabilities. Apple plans to continue to run some features on-device and use Private Cloud Compute to maintain privacy. Apple will keep personal data on-device, anonymize requests, and continue to allow AI features to be disabled. Siri is not going to work as a chatbot, so the updated version will not feature long-term memory or back-and-forth conversations, plus Apple plans to use the same voice-based interface with limited typing functionality. In what became an infamous move, Apple went all-in showing off a smarter, Apple Intelligence-powered version of Siri when it introduced iOS 18 at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference. Apple said these features would come in an update to iOS 18, but right around when launch was expected, Apple admitted that Siri wasn't ready and would be delayed until spring 2026. Apple executives went on a press tour to explain the Siri shortcomings after WWDC 2025, promising bigger and better things for iOS 26, and explaining what went wrong. The Apple Intelligence Siri features we saw at WWDC 2024 were actually implemented and weren't faked, but Siri wasn't working as well as expected behind the scenes and Apple was dealing with quality issues. Since Apple advertised the new Siri features with the iPhone 16, some people who bought the iPhone because of the new functionality were upset about the delay and sued. Apple was able to quietly settle the case in December 2025, so most of the Siri snafu has been resolved. The misstep with Siri's debut and the failure of the hybrid architecture led Apple to restructure its entire AI team. Apple AI chief John Giannandrea was removed from the Siri leadership team, with Vision Pro chief Mike Rockwell taking over instead. Apple CEO Tim Cook was no longer confident in Giannandrea's ability to oversee product development, and Giannandrea is set to retire in spring 2026. Rockwell reports to Federighi, and Federighi told employees that the new leadership has "supercharged" Siri development. Federighi has apparently played an instrumental role in changing Apple's approach to AI, and he is making the decisions that will allow the company to catch up to rivals. Apple has struggled with retaining AI employees amid the Siri issue and recruitment strategies from companies like Meta. Meta poached several key AI engineers from Apple, offering pay packages as high as $200 million. At Apple's August all-hands meeting, Cook and Federighi aimed to reassure employees that AI is critically important to the company. "There is no project people are taking more seriously," Federighi said of Siri. Cook said that Apple will "make the investment" to be a leader in AI. Apple has promised that the new version of Siri is coming in spring 2026, which is when we're expecting iOS 26.4. Testing on iOS 26.4 should begin in late February or early March, with a launch to follow around the April timeframe. The new version of Siri will presumably run on all devices that support Apple Intelligence, though Apple hasn't explicitly provided details. Some new Siri capabilities may come to older devices as well. Apple plans to upgrade Siri even further in the iOS 27 update, turning Siri into a chatbot. Siri will work like Claude or ChatGPT, able to understand and engage in back and forth conversation. Details about the Siri interface and how a chatbot version of Siri will work are still in short supply, but iOS 26.4 will be a stop on the path to a version of Siri able to actually function like products from Anthropic and OpenAI.

Apple iOS 26.4 update: No Gemini-powered Siri yet, report suggests

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple may have internally pushed back the release of the AI-enhanced Siri, which was supposed to at least partially launch with iOS 26.4 in March. This is a bit of a surprise because, as recently as a couple of weeks ago, Bloomberg also reported that Apple would reveal the new Siri in February. Per the newest report, we might have to wait until May or September to see the beginnings of Siri's AI journey. This is all apparently due to problems that keep occurring in internal testing. The new Siri is supposed to be able to use personal data like text messages to answer queries from users, but, per Bloomberg, Apple is running into issues with that. It is supposedly sometimes slow to respond or doesn't respond properly, and it can even run into problems when a query is spoken too quickly. Sometimes it even falls back on Siri's existing ChatGPT integration, which it is not supposed to do in these circumstances. Apple's struggles with making an AI-enhanced Siri work are a bit surprising given that this initiative was announced almost two years ago, in the summer of 2024. It's not typical of Apple to publicly announce a product or service that then undergoes significant delays; there's an AirPower every now and then, but for the most part, when Apple reveals something, that means it's going to happen on something resembling a normal schedule.

Siri will officially become Apple's biggest-ever embarrassment if these new iOS 27 delay rumors are true

Siri's long-promised AI overhaul is becoming a huge embarrassment for Apple, as while this was initially announced back in June of 2024, at which point Apple said it would launch as part of iOS 18 that year, we're now in 2026 and it still hasn't arrived. Not only that, but it's reportedly now being delayed even further. We'd heard that it might finally arrive - at least in part - with iOS 26.4, which is expected to roll out soon, but now Apple watcher Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg (via 9to5Mac), has said that at least some of the features that were previously planned for iOS 26.4 will now ship with iOS 26.5, which is expected in May, and iOS 27, due in September, instead. Gurman - who has a superb track record for Apple information - cites "people familiar with the matter", and adds that the most likely features to slip are "voice-based control of in-app actions", and "the expanded ability for Siri to tap into personal data," which, as Gurman explains, "would let users ask the assistant to, say, search old text messages to locate a podcast shared by a friend and immediately play it." So if this is correct, Siri's AI overhaul won't get most of its core features until around two years after it was first announced, and parts that don't arrive until iOS 27 will be a full two years later than Apple initially said to expect them. Even in isolation, this would be a ridiculously long delay, and one that's not very fair on customers - including myself - who upgraded to iPhone 16-series phones in part down to the promise of these features. But it gets even worse when you consider just how far ahead Android is when it comes to AI features, with Gemini having delivered much of what Apple is promising for Siri for years now. In fact, Apple is so far behind that it seems to have - for the time being at least - essentially given up on trying to directly compete, and has instead inked a deal with Google to use Gemini as the brains behind Siri. But even with that deal in place, the wait goes on. Apple is no stranger to embarrassments and failures, from 'antennagate' and 'bendgate' to the awful state Apple Maps launched in and the abandoned AirPower wireless charger, but none of these issues dragged on for quite as long as the current Siri debacle. And not only is Siri miles behind the competition here, but even before AI emerged, Siri was generally considered less capable than rivals, so for whatever reason this is something Apple has struggled with in one way or another since the launch of Siri itself. Hopefully, Siri will finally be competitive once this promised AI overhaul is delivered, but with the way things have been going so far, I wouldn't be surprised if it gets even further delayed.

AppleInsider.com

A report suggests that internal testing hasn't been going well with the new Siri and some features, including access to personal data, will likely be pushed back to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27. The reporting around artificial intelligence and Apple has been a never-ending treasure trove of doomcasting for the company, but vague details of delays regarding unannounced products are nothing new. After Apple reassessed its Apple Intelligence features promised during WWDC 2024, it paused personalized intelligence in the hopes it could be better refined in the following year. According to the report from Bloomberg, anonymous tipsters that have information related to the development of the upgraded Apple Intelligence suggest some features may be delayed yet again. These include Siri's ability to access a user's personal data, but the details on that delay are iffy. As we've said at AppleInsider many times before, anonymous tipsters tend to leak information when they have an axe to grind. We have no idea how old the information is, why it was shared, or if it even reflects what is occurring internally. The reported issues It has always been unusual when these kinds of reports classify such things as "delays" when they've never been announced publicly. Only the industry insiders and the internal teams might classify them as delays, but in all reality, this is how development works. Some things ship as expected, some don't. Painting it as mounting internal failures seems odd given the same language isn't used when Apple's competitors make similar mistakes. The tipsters say some features may arrive in iOS 26.5 or may get pushed back to iOS 27. The report says the key issue is that "Siri doesn't always properly process queries or can take too long to handle requests." Feature flags for iOS 26.5 show "preview" functionality for the personalization features, but that may not actually mean the feature was delayed. A lot of additional toggles are available to Apple's internal teams, not to mention the feature could launch in a beta state. The report also claims that the way app intents tie to the revamped Apple Intelligence system could also be pushed back. Siri apparently also has a tendency to cut speakers off when they talk too fast, or has difficulty processing complex queries. The new system also seems to still fall back to the ChatGPT integration even when unnecessary, but that could just be a bug too. These reports lack any detail about when these errors occurred beyond "as recently as January" or "late 2025 internal models." An impending launch As always, the only way we can judge Apple's efforts with the new Apple Intelligence and Siri is once a true announcement has been made. Everything before that is speculation colored by a desire to convey a narrative. All Apple has publicly promised is that the renewed Apple Intelligence and Siri would arrive in 2026. They have internal goals of spring and iOS 26.4, and there is still something launching then, but the word "delay" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here in painting this as a failure. If iOS 26.4 and its features are a letdown, then there may be something to this doom and gloom report. If not, we can only speculate about which features were punted -- perhaps ones related to AI and Apple Health.

Siri 2.0 is reportedly delayed again: here's when Apple's AI assistant might actually launch

The overhauled Siri 2.0 was finally supposed to arrive this spring, but Apple has reportedly delayed that launch again. At this point, it's better to expect a delay than to believe the update will see the light of day. According to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Siri has been pushed back after running into "snags" during testing. A good chunk of the overhauled Siri was expected to launch with the forthcoming iOS 26.4 update, which should go live in March. Apple only just released iOS 26.3 this past week. Gurman claims that Apple ran into issues when testing the software, which has meant that Apple could split up the revamp over several future iOS updates, including iOS 26.5, which isn't expected to release until May. Like Google's Gemini, Siri is supposed to allow you to control both Apple and third-party apps using your voice. New enhancements would have included the ability to recall personal data to do things like find old text messages with links and open them or play video files you've been sent. Apple wants Siri to be a hands-free voice controller for you iPhone with a new framework called "App Intents." As an example, you could tell Siri to find a photo, edit it and then text it to a friend all with one voice command. Alternatively, it could potentially log in to apps or services for you. Previous reports sugget Apple was testing this framework in apps like YouTube, AllTrails and Temu. Gurman reports that Apple is also working on two as-yet-unannounced features; custom image generation and a new web search feature. The web search function would apparently be similar to how Perplexity or Gemini works. It will let you request information from the web and then summarize a response with details and relevant web links. The custom image generator is supposed to be based on the same engine as the Image Playground app. Meanwhile, recent reports suggest that Apple is developing a separate chatbot that will eventually replace the current Siri and act as a "true artificial intelligence chatbot." However, Siri 3.0 isn't expected to launch until the end of 2026, at the earliest. "Campo" is supposed to deeply integrate AI across Apple's systems including macOS and iPadOS. It's supposed to be able to control features across the OS and locate personal files in apps like Mail, Calendar and Safari. It's been nearly two years since Apple first teased an upgraded Siri during WWDC 2024. However, the company has repeatedly run into trouble with the implementation of Apple Intelligence and turning Siri into a true AI-backed voice assistant. Siri 2.0 didn't materialize with iOS 18, and was pushed into 2026 in the spring of 2025, when it suddenly was to become a major part of iOS 26. According to Gurman, Siri testers have found the chatbot sluggish or in some cases, Siri is resorting to using ChatGPT instead of Apple's own technology. Until the Gemini switch, ChatGPT powers the currently available Siri AI features. Additionally, Siri does not appear able to handle complex queries and even cuts off users if they speak too fast. It may be an issue of integration with Google Gemini, which is supposed to undergird Siri now. Features and Siri appear finicky, and we may not see the full overhaul in May with iOS 26.5. The launch could also bleed into the launch of iOS 27 when it launches in September. Though Apple is expected to debut the "Campo" system later this year which should replace the current version of Siri anyway.

Apple's Big AI Siri Plans Are Once Again Delayed

Leaks suggested the features were ready for iOS 26.4, but Gurman reports Apple will likely push them to at least iOS 26.5. If you're an Apple fan who closely follows tech news, you might have been looking forward to Siri's big AI overhaul for some time now -- specifically, since the company initially announced it at WWDC 2024. But despite delay after delay, rumors have strongly suggested that the next generation of Siri is set to launch with iOS 26.4. And seeing as Apple just released iOS 26.3 this week, AI Siri is closer than ever, right? Wrong. As reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has once again kicked Siri's big updates down the road. According to Gurman, the company really did intend to release AI Siri with iOS 26.4, which is reportedly planned to release sometime in March. However, due to testing "snags," the company is instead planning to break up Siri's major updates and distribute them across several iOS updates. Gurman notes that likely means iOS 26.5, which could launch in May, and iOS 27, which will likely release in September, if it follows Apple's usual release dates. But looking at Apple's track record here, don't hold your breath. According to Gurman's sources, Apple is struggling to get Siri to "properly process queries," or to actually respond fast enough, both of which would defeat the purpose of using a smart assistant. Apple is reportedly pushing engineers to use iOS 26.5 to test these features, particularly the ability for Siri to use your personal data to answer questions. Users may be able to flip a switch in Settings to "preview" these features, and may treat the rollout as a beta. Engineers are also struggling to get Siri's app intents to work, or the feature that lets Siri take actions on your behalf. You could ask Siri to open an image, edit it, then share it with a friend, but only if the feature itself actually works. This, too, may roll out with iOS 26.5, but it's unclear due to reliability issues. Siri is also cutting off user prompts too soon, and sometimes taps into ChatGPT instead of using Apple's underlying tech -- which would look pretty bad for the company. Apple is also testing new AI features for iOS 26.5 that we haven't heard of yet. One is a new web search tool that functions like other AI search features from companies like Perplexity and Google. You ask a question to search on the web, and it returns a report with summaries and links. The other new feature is a custom image generation tool, that builds on Image Playground, but that too is hitting development hurdles. Looking even further ahead, Apple is planning more Siri advancements -- namely, giving the assistant chatbot features, à la ChatGPT. (That said, it will reportedly use Gemini to power these features.) This version of Siri may even have its own app. It seems Siri really is Apple's albatross. Despite arguably popularizing smart assistants for the general population, Siri quickly fell behind compared to the likes of Alexa and Gemini (née Google Assistant). Now, the latter have fully embraced modern generative AI, offering features like contextual awareness and natural language commands. While Amazon and Google users can ask their assistants increasingly complicated questions, Siri still feels designed mostly to handle setting alarms and checking the weather. That was going to change with iOS 18, alongside Apple Intelligence as a whole. Apple's initial pitch for AI Siri was an assistant that could see what's on your phone to better understand questions you ask, and take actions on your behalf -- i.e., app intents. You could ask Siri to edit an image you have pulled up on your Photos app, and because the assistant is contextually aware, it would know what image you mean, and apply the edits you ask for. Or, you could ask when your friend was set to arrive, and the assistant would be able to scan messages and emails to know that, one, your friend is visiting town this weekend, and two, that they sent you their flight itinerary that gets them into the airport at 3:55 p.m. This Siri has never launched, however. While the company has rolled out iterative updates to Siri with some AI-powered features, its overhaul with these ambitious features have been a trial for Apple's AI team. It all stems from Apple's issues with AI in general: The company was caught off guard by the generative AI wave kicked off in late 2022 by OpenAI's ChatGPT, and following some resistance from corporate leadership, have been scrambling to keep up ever since. Apple Intelligence launched half-baked with issues of its own, but rather than launch a half-baked AI Siri, the company has been struggling to build up the assistant internally. Part of the problem is privacy-related: Unlike other tech companies, who have no problem hoovering up user data to train their models with, Apple still wants to preserve privacy while rolling out AI features. As such, that complicates their situation, as they need to ensure both the hardware and software involved meet those standards. You can't have Siri pull user data into the cloud without strict security measures if you want to ensure your users' data remains private. The company is also focused on building its own hardware for cloud-based AI processing, rather than focus on simply buying up GPUs as many other companies have. Apple is the second most valuable tech company in the world, but a host of factors -- including with software, hardware, and leadership -- have made it so even Apple can't magically produce an AI assistant. Though, I'm not sold that an AI Siri will move units for Apple in the first place. I can't imagine Gemini moves people to Android, and you can download ChatGPT on any device you own. It's even now built into your iPhone.

Siri's new Gemini-powered brain is almost here - find out how to try it in iOS 26.4 this month

The first public beta will probably land in late February or early March, with the finished version probably launching in late March or early April It's fair to say that there's been a very long wait for Apple to overhaul Siri. Arguably it was in need of some sort of overhaul even before AI was an option, but we've now been waiting over 18 months since Apple first announced Siri's AI upgrade - an announcement that factored in to me buying the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which launched that year. Finally though, the wait is seemingly almost over. According to Apple watcher Mark Gurman, writing for Bloomberg (via 9to5Mac), Apple will release the first developer beta of iOS 26.4 in the week of February 23, so that means it's just 2-3 weeks away at the time of writing. That's relevant because iOS 26.4 is expected to include "some components" of Apple's long-promised Gemini-powered Siri overhaul. Specifically, it's said to have personal context, on-screen awareness, and both in-app and cross-app interactions. So in other words Siri should be able to dig up information in your emails, notes, and texts, as well as taking actions on your screen and within apps. So it should be a lot more capable than it is currently. Though other updates to Siri - including a new chatbot-like interface - apparently won't land until iOS 27 later this year. In any case, unless you actually are a developer you might not want to grab this early iOS 26.4 beta, but if you do, then here's how to download iOS developer betas. The first public beta will likely launch within a couple of weeks of that, so probably late February or early March, and we've got a guide covering how to download iOS public betas too. After that, we hopefully won't be waiting too long for the finished version. For reference, the finished version of iOS 18.4 landed on March 31 last year, so it's likely that we'll see similar timing for iOS 26.4 this year.

The long-awaited Siri upgrade is being delayed yet again

Apple announced the delayed launch of an AI‑enhanced Siri, originally slated for iOS 26.4 in March, after software testing issues forced a staggered rollout extending into the May iOS update and possibly iOS 27 in September. Apple introduced Apple Intelligence in 2024, positioning it as a platform for generative AI across its devices and promising an upgraded Siri that would incorporate advanced language models. Since the announcement, Apple has repeatedly deferred the Siri update, extending the timeline by roughly a year and a half, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. The original schedule linked the new Siri to the iOS 26.4 release in March; current guidance indicates a phased deployment, with some capabilities moving to the May iOS update and others possibly delayed until iOS 27 in September. Apple cited difficulties encountered during internal software testing as the primary factor prompting the additional postponement. Rumors suggest the revamped Siri will function similarly to large‑language‑model chatbots, allowing conversational interaction without launching a separate app, and that its underlying engine will be Google Gemini.

Siri 2.0 could be with us in just two weeks -- here's what we have to look forward to

It sounds like Siri 2.0's debut could be only a couple of weeks away from launching in an upcoming iOS update, although most users will be waiting longer to try the features. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, a man with established inside knowledge of Apple's activities, claims in his latest newsletter that the revamped version of Apple's familiar digital assistant will debut in iOS 26.4, as previously rumored. More specifically, it will be made available in the developer beta build, which will arrive on February 23rd. This update is expected to contain long-promised features for Siri, such as it being able to access and control key apps like your messages, calendar appointments and photos, and respond to context-sensitive queries about the contents of those apps. However, Gurman explains that the rumored chatbot functionality coming to Siri won't arrive until the next full iPhone update -- iOS 27 -- according to other leaks. As this February release is a developer beta, this isn't going to appear on your iPhone unless you've specifically signed up for these updates. And to be frank, we don't recommend doing so unless you're aware of the risks that potentially buggy software could have on the only smartphone you own. Fortunately, we at TG are brave (or perhaps foolish), and will be installing the iOS 26.4 beta to test the new Siri, and we will share our results and experiences with you so you don't have to put your own device at risk. While it's not clear when the stable version of iOS 26.4 will launch, giving all users with compatible iPhones access to the new features. However, we can assume from Apple's usual iOS release patterns that the update will be ready by late March or April. Apple put a lot of emphasis on how smart Siri would be thanks to the addition of Apple Intelligence back at its 2024 WWDC conference. But despite advertising these capabilities during the WWDC presentation, and then again in a commercial starring Bella Ramsey from "The Last of Us," these features haven't yet made it onto any iPhone out in the real world. This has been quite a blow for Apple, as over in the Android world, Google and Gemini have been receiving continuous updates and fresh features for awhile now. At the same time, third-party apps like ChatGPT have also shown users how far behind Apple's in-house tech is. Fortunately, with Apple now adopting a Gemini AI model as the basis for Siri, its on-device AI powers should soon be on par with the competition. And while it's perhaps embarrassing for Apple's own AI team to have to rely on Google to help them out, this will hopefully be the best possible option for iPhone users around the world. So, let us know if you'll be downloading the new beta, and then mark your calendar for February 23rd -- either so you can get installing yourself, or so you can return to TG to hear about what we've found.

Apple says Siri's still coming in 2026 (despite the delays) - Phandroid

Apple's been promising a smarter, more capable Siri for what feels like forever now. The company first teased these features back in 2024, then delayed them to 2025, and then pushed everything to 2026. Now, following a Bloomberg report claiming the Apple Gemini Siri 2026 upgrade is hitting more problems during testing, Apple told CNBC it's sticking to that timeline. According to Bloomberg, Apple planned to roll out the new Siri features with iOS 26.4 around March. But testing revealed issues. Siri's struggling to process queries properly and taking too long to respond. Sometimes the new version defaults to Apple's existing ChatGPT integration instead of the Gemini technology it's supposed to be using. So now the features might get spread across iOS 26.5 in May and iOS 27 in September. Apple never publicly committed to a specific month, though. The company only ever said "2026," so technically there's no official delay yet. But internally, missing that March target is a problem. Apple's Gemini-powered Siri upgrade was supposed to fix everything. The company struck a deal with Google earlier this year to use Gemini models for the new assistant. These features include personal context (letting Siri pull info from your messages and emails), on-screen awareness (understanding what's on your display), and deeper app integration. But here's the thing: Apple's been hemorrhaging AI talent throughout 2025. Key executives left for Meta and other competitors offering better pay. The company also admitted AI shortcomings earlier last year when it pulled ads showing off Siri upgrades after the features didn't materialize on schedule. Testing has apparently revealed that not all the promised Apple Gemini Siri 2026 features are working reliably. There are accuracy problems. And the situation's described as "fluid," which means Apple's plans could still change. Executives reportedly don't want to delay things beyond spring 2026, but at this point, we'll see.

Advanced Siri Upgrades Reportedly Postponed Beyond iOS 26.4

* Apple has reportedly delayed next-gen Siri features * The upgrades were expected with the iOS 26.4 update * Personalised Siri responses are also said to be delayed Apple is said to have delayed a set of next-generation Siri features that were expected to debut with iOS 26.4. According to a seasoned journalist, the update was anticipated to bring more advanced contextual understanding, a personalised version of Siri, and deeper app integration to the company's voice assistant, but development challenges appear to have slowed progress, and its release may be pushed further into the year. The delay suggests Apple may be taking additional time to refine the features before a wider rollout. Siri Features Now Delayed According to a report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple had been internally testing several AI-powered Siri upgrades planned for iOS 26.4. They were expected to build upon the Cupertino-based tech giant's broader push into on-device AI and better natural language processing. However, the features in question may not ship with the initial iOS 26.4 release, as previously anticipated. The delayed capabilities reportedly include more personalised Siri responses and improved contextual awareness across apps and system functions. Apple is said to be working on enabling Siri to better understand what is happening on-screen and respond more intelligently to follow-up questions. This was believed to mark a significant step towards bringing Siri on par with other AI-powered assistants currently available. While the update is anticipated to be rolled out in March, the AI-powered features may be spread over future versions, Gurman wrote, citing sources familiar with the matter. Some of the features could be postponed until iOS 26.5, which is slated for a May release, while others would have to wait until iOS 27, expected to be released in September alongside the next-generation iPhone lineup. The tech giant has reportedly instructed engineers the upcoming iOS 26.5 update to test new features of Siri, and the internal versions of the update are said to include a notice describing the addition of some Siri enhancements. As per Gurman, Apple internally settled on a March 2026 release window for the new Siri; however, testing is said to have uncovered fresh problems with the software, such as the voice assistant not being able to properly process queries or taking too long to handle them. Consequently, the company was prompted towards the latest postponement. The Cupertino-based tech giant's AI-based voice assistant was due to receive major upgrades in 2024 with iOS 18, but most of those plans were shelved as it fell behind competitors in the AI race. Per previous reports, the upgrades, including support for the App Intents feature, were expected to be released next spring with the iOS 26.4 update.

Apple's Gemini-powered Siri just hit another delay - Phandroid

Remember when Apple promised a smarter Siri? Yeah, that's getting pushed back again. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that the Gemini-powered Siri features will be delayed and won't all arrive in March like Apple was planning. Instead, they're getting spread across multiple updates through the rest of the year. Apple was targeting iOS 26.4 as the big launch moment, but internal testing didn't go well. Now the company's looking at iOS 26.5 in May for some features. Other features are also potentially sliding all the way to iOS 27 in September. This marks yet another setback for an upgrade that was first teased back at WWDC 2024. The most problematic feature is the one people actually want: Siri pulling information from your personal apps. Imagine asking Siri to find that podcast your friend texted you last month and having it actually work. That capability's now at serious risk of getting delayed beyond March. This isn't Apple's first rodeo with Siri delays. The company's been pushing these features back since 2024, and even after paying Google $1 billion to use Gemini's AI technology, they still can't get it right. Testing revealed bugs that Apple couldn't ship around. Siri's responding too slowly to requests, failing to understand what people are asking, and apparently cutting people off mid-sentence if they talk too fast. Those aren't minor issues you can patch later. The tech behind the new Siri uses Google's massive 1.2 trillion parameter model, which is about eight times more capable than what Apple's currently using. But bigger models don't automatically mean fewer problems, especially when you're trying to make them work across someone's entire app ecosystem. Apple hasn't said anything publicly about these delays beyond the vague "coming this year" promise. But the iOS 26.4 beta launching next week might include some Siri features with a disclaimer that they're incomplete. That's a pretty clear signal that things aren't going according to plan.

Apple's Much-Anticipated Siri Overhaul Hits A Snag, New Features To Now Roll Out In Batches

First, Apple scaled back its World Knowledge Answers AI project, as well as an AI-driven overhaul of the Safari browser and the Apple Health app. Now, it seems the Cupertino giant is rolling back the launch of the new Gemini-backed Siri, resorting to a gradual feature drop approach instead. As we've been noting ad nauseum over the past couple of weeks, Apple has formally selected Google's Gemini to power the next generation of its on-device Foundation Models as well as a revamped version of Siri, which would bring the much-delayed in-app actions, personal context awareness, and on-screen awareness to its bespoke voice assistant, enabling a wide variety of agentic actions across apps, based on personal data and on-screen content. At the backend, Apple is planning to deploy a gigantic 1.2-trillion-parameter custom Gemini AI model on its cloud servers to power Siri's new AI features under the overarching banner of Apple Intelligence - where relatively simple AI tasks are performed by using on-device models and the computational resources of the device itself, while the more complex tasks are offloaded to Apple's private cloud servers using encrypted and stateless data for subsequent inference. Initially, Apple was expected to launch this revamped Siri in the second half of February, as per a tidbit shared by the prolific tipster, Mark Gurman, who later refined the expected launch date to February 23. Now, however, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman is out with yet another scoop, declaring that Apple's planned launch of a revamped Siri has hit snags. Consequently, the Cupertino giant is now working to gradually roll out the underlying features over the course of the ongoing year: "After planning to include the new capabilities in iOS 26.4 -- an operating system update slated for March -- Apple is now working to spread them out over future versions, according to people familiar with the matter. That would mean possibly postponing at least some features until at least iOS 26.5, due in May, and iOS 27, which comes out in September." Gurman then goes on to note: "One feature is especially likely to slip: the expanded ability for Siri to tap into personal data. That technology would let users ask the assistant to, say, search old text messages to locate a podcast shared by a friend and immediately play it." What's more, with Siri's in-app actions feature also encountering problems, it seems Apple won't be able to make a grand show of launching the revamped Siri in one go.

Siri Finally Gets a Brain: How iOS 26.4 Brings Google Gemini AI to Your iPhone

Apple is preparing to redefine the capabilities of Siri with the integration of Google's Gemini AI, a significant advancement in conversational artificial intelligence. Set to debut with iOS 26.4 in early 2026, this update is expected to make Siri smarter, more intuitive, and capable of managing complex tasks. By combining innovative natural language processing with Apple's steadfast commitment to privacy, this development could transform how you interact with your devices on a daily basis. The video below from Matt Talks Tech gives us more details about iOS 26.45 and the new Siri powered by Gemini. At the heart of this upgrade lies Gemini AI, Google's advanced language model designed to excel in understanding nuanced queries, maintaining context throughout extended interactions, and executing multi-step tasks. Unlike traditional AI systems, Gemini AI brings a level of conversational depth and functionality that has the potential to elevate Siri from a basic voice assistant to a dynamic, human-like digital companion. For instance, instead of issuing a simple command like "set a reminder," you could say, "Remind me to call Sarah about the budget report after my 3 PM meeting." Powered by Gemini AI, Siri would not only understand the context but also cross-reference your schedule and set the reminder accordingly. This enhanced functionality aims to make your interactions with Siri more seamless, intuitive, and productive. While the collaboration between Apple and Google may raise questions, Apple remains unwavering in its commitment to user privacy. The integration of Gemini AI into Siri is designed to enhance intelligence without compromising security. Apple ensures that most tasks are processed directly on your device, reducing reliance on cloud-based systems. For scenarios requiring cloud interactions, such as syncing across devices, all data is encrypted to safeguard your privacy. This approach aligns with Apple's broader philosophy of delivering advanced technology while maintaining user trust. By prioritizing on-device processing and encryption, Apple minimizes risks such as data breaches or unauthorized access, making sure that you can embrace these new capabilities with confidence. The release of iOS 26.4, scheduled for April 2026, will mark the first phase of Siri's transformation. This update focuses on making Siri more context-aware and capable of understanding your intent based on the content on your screen. Here's what you can expect: These enhancements signify a shift from basic voice commands to a more dynamic, context-driven assistant, making Siri an integral part of your daily workflow. The evolution of Siri will continue with iOS 27, expected to launch in late 2026. This update will introduce even more advanced features, focusing on allowing back-and-forth dialogues and handling complex, multi-step tasks. For example, you could say, "Find a time for a team meeting next week, summarize the agenda, and send invites." Siri, using Gemini AI, would not only understand the request but also execute it across multiple apps, saving you time and effort. This progression positions Siri as a proactive assistant capable of streamlining your daily activities and enhancing productivity. As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into your life, privacy and security remain paramount. Apple's privacy-first approach ensures that the benefits of advanced AI do not come at the expense of your trust. Here's how Apple safeguards your data: This dual focus on innovation and security ensures that you can enjoy the benefits of a smarter Siri without compromising your personal information. Apple's rollout of these updates will follow a structured timeline to ensure a smooth transition and optimal user experience: This phased approach allows Apple to introduce fantastic features while maintaining stability and reliability, making sure that users can adapt to these advancements seamlessly. For you, these updates mean a more capable and intuitive assistant that adapts to your needs. Whether you're managing tasks, communicating with others, or seeking information, Siri's enhanced functionality will make your interactions more efficient and enjoyable. This transformation addresses long-standing limitations, positioning Siri as a leader in the competitive landscape of AI-driven assistants. By evolving from a basic tool to a proactive, human-like assistant, Siri has the potential to redefine how you interact with technology and streamline your daily life. The integration of Gemini AI into Siri represents a significant leap forward in conversational AI. With a focus on natural language understanding, privacy, and seamless app integration, these updates promise to make Apple devices smarter, more intuitive, and user-friendly. As iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 roll out, you can look forward to a Siri that not only understands you better but also helps you achieve more with less effort. This marks the beginning of a new era for digital assistants, where technology works seamlessly to enhance your productivity and simplify your life. Below are more guides on the Siri upgrade from our extensive range of articles.

Apple Taps Brakes on Siri AI Overhaul | 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. Some features that the company expected to add in March as part of an iOS 26.4 update are now likely to be released in May as part of iOS 26.5 and in September as part of iOS 27, according to the report. Among the features likely to be delayed are Siri's expanded ability to tap into personal data such as old text messages, and its ability to perform several in-app actions in response to a single command, the report said. The change in plans follows Apple's discovery that with the new software that's being tested, Siri makes mistakes in processing queries and takes too long to handle requests, per the report. Apple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS' request for comment. PYMNTS reported in December that Apple revamped its artificial intelligence leadership amid Siri delays. The shakeup came as the company raced to shore up its Apple Intelligence roadmap and Siri's AI makeover after a year of delays, glitches and senior departures. The report noted that PYMNTS coverage over the previous 18 months had cataloged missteps such as the need to delay key Apple Intelligence features for iOS and iPadOS to avoid shipping unstable code, the need to pull the feature after AI-generated news alerts and message summaries drew criticism for inaccuracies, and engineering troubles that slowed a next-generation Siri. In January, Apple and Google announced that they had formed a partnership and that the next generation of Apple's foundation models will be based on Google's Gemini and cloud tech. It was reported Thursday (Feb. 5) that Apple scaled back its plans to release another product: an AI-based health coach. Instead of launching the coach as a standalone product, the company plans to roll out some of the planned features inside its Health app over time. In January, it was reported that Apple was scaling back the Vision Pro after weak sales. The company cut back both manufacturing and marketing for the $3,499 headset after choosing not to expand the product's rollout in 2025.

Apple's next-gen Siri rollout postponed amid testing issues: Report

Apple's planned upgrade to its Siri virtual assistant is encountering delays, potentially postponing several new features. Originally scheduled for iOS 26.4 in March 2026, some capabilities may now arrive in iOS 26.5 (May) or iOS 27 (September), according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The redesigned Siri, first announced in June 2024, is intended to access personal data and on-screen content and provide advanced voice control across Apple and third-party apps. According to Mark Gurman, testing has revealed several issues: CEO Tim Cook has previously confirmed work on AI-focused data-center chips to support future capabilities. Craig Federighi emphasized that personalized AI features will maintain privacy by keeping data on-device or on privacy-protecting servers, rather than logging or using user data for training, and that licensed or synthetic data will be used where possible. Apple plans a major overhaul in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 under the "Campo" project. The next-generation Siri will: The update will also integrate with Apple apps including Mail, Calendar, and Safari, allowing more extensive system-wide control. Apple aims to provide AI that delivers personalized assistance while safeguarding user privacy, potentially establishing a new standard for device-level AI.

Apple says upgraded Siri is still on track for 2026 launch amid delay reports

Reports suggest internal testing has revealed performance issues, including slow responses and inconsistent query handling. Apple has confirmed that it will be rolling out a more advanced version of Siri in 2026. This comes after the report suggested that the AI Siri might face yet another delay. The company, in an interview with CNBC, has maintained its previously shared timeline, even as recent media coverage claimed internal development challenges may push the release beyond initial expectations. This clarification follows a Bloomberg report that Apple is experiencing technical difficulties with the next-generation Siri, which could affect its inclusion in upcoming iOS updates. While Apple had originally planned to release the Apple Intelligence-powered Siri in the spring of 2025, the company acknowledged earlier this year that the assistant needed more development time and pushed the launch date back to 2026. Although Apple has not specified an exact release date beyond confirming a 2026 timeframe, previous reports suggested that the enhanced Siri experience would arrive with iOS 26.4, which is expected in spring next year. However, recent updates indicate that the feature may not be ready for that build and may instead appear in a later update, such as iOS 26.5 or even iOS 27. Importantly, Apple has not officially delayed the product, and it has never publicly committed to a more specific timeline. The company has until the end of 2026 to meet the stated target. Apple first unveiled its vision for a smarter Siri at its developer conference in June 2024, pointing out capabilities such as understanding on-screen content, recognising personal context, and performing more complex tasks across apps. Since then, the company has reportedly been expanding Siri's feature set with tools such as web-based search assistance and image generation. Also read: Samsung One UI 8.5 may release with Galaxy S26 series: Check features, eligible devices and everything else we know However, internal testing revealed inconsistencies. According to reports, Siri occasionally struggles to correctly interpret queries and can be slow to respond, with some features failing to work as intended. As a result, Apple may stagger the rollout, introducing some features in early updates while refining others in later releases. For now, Apple is said to seed its first beta of iOS 26.4 later this month and that will offer a clear picture of whether Siri is coming or not.