Apple's Internal ChatGPT-Like Tool: Veritas Paves the Way for Next-Gen Siri

Report: Apple Has Developed an Internal ChatGPT-Like Tool for Testing Siri Features

According to the report, Apple has no plans to release the AI tool to the public. What if Apple developed its own version of ChatGPT, but never let you use it? That may be what happens with Veritas, the reported name of an iPhone app that the world's largest tech company developed and released internally to test new features for Siri, its virtual personal assistant. In a report from Bloomberg's technology reporter Mark Gurman, Apple reportedly released an app resembling OpenAI's ChatGPT to employees as part of its ongoing Siri overhaul. Don't miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source. A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read more: Best AI chatbots Siri has been due for an upgrade for some time, but that's been delayed to sometime in the spring of 2026 as development continues. There have even been rumors that Apple could employ Google's Gemini AI technology to beef up Siri's capabilities. Veritas (Latin for "truth") is being used to test Siri features such as using AI to do advanced searches of emails or songs and to perform actions such as photo editing, the report says. Veritas apparently supports multiple conversations that can be carried on over time, similar to ChatGPT. Apple has struggled to keep up with the fast-moving AI industry. Users have offered a lackluster response to its Apple Intelligence features, and the delays to Siri's upgrade which at one time led the pack on voice assistants, haven't helped. There are still some useful AI features on Apple's platforms, but they have not drawn as much attention as those from rivals such as OpenAI, Google and Meta.

Apple Builds a ChatGPT-Like App to Help Test the Revamped Siri

Apple Inc. has developed a ChatGPT-like iPhone app to help test and prepare for a long-anticipated overhaul of Siri coming next year, according to people familiar with the matter. The company's AI division is using the app to quickly evaluate new features for Siri, Apple's voice-powered assistant. That includes testing the ability to search through personal data, such as songs and emails, and perform in-app actions like editing photos, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the initiative is private.

Apple reportedly made a ChatGPT-clone to test Siri's new capabilities

In the pursuit of actually releasing the updated version of Siri the company promised way back at WWDC 2024, Apple is taking a page out of OpenAI's book. According to Bloomberg, the company has created a ChatGPT-inspired app to test Siri's new capabilities ahead of the release of the improved voice assistant next year. This new app, called "Veritas" internally, will likely never make its way to the public in its current form, but offers Apple employees a faster way to test Siri's new skills. That includes letting users search through personal data stored on their phone, like their emails and messages, or taking action in apps, like editing photos. The new app is apparently also a way for Apple to "gather feedback on whether the chatbot format has value," Bloomberg writes. While an internal app doesn't make it any clearer how useful Apple's updated Siri will be, it does suggest the project is in a more advanced stage than before. Given the difficulty the company's faced actually releasing its various AI products -- including publicly delaying the Siri update back in March 2025 -- that's meaningful. Apple's original promise for Apple Intelligence was that it could offer a curated selection of AI-powered features with a level of privacy and polish that its competitors couldn't muster. The reality is that Apple shipped a collection of so-so features that worked, but couldn't pull off its truly impressive demo: a Siri informed on the context of your life and with the ability to actually do things on your phone. Apple is only realizing that vision in 2026, Bloomberg reports, through a combination of its own AI models, and at least one third-party model from its competitors. In June, the company was reportedly considering using a model from either OpenAI or Anthropic, but as of August, the company is now apparently circling a partnership with Google.

Bloomberg: Apple using a ChatGPT-style app to test next-gen Siri

As Apple continues its work on a revamped version of Siri, a new report from Bloomberg today has details on the company's testing process. Mark Gurman reports that Apple has developed a "ChatGPT-like app to help test and prepare" for the launch of the next-generation version of Siri. The report details that Apple doesn't currently plan to launch the app to the public. Instead, the company is using it as a way to evaluate new features for Siri. Bloomberg explains: "The app essentially takes the still-in-progress technology from the new Siri and puts it in a form employees can test out more efficiently. The company also can gather feedback on whether the chatbot format has value." The app is described as resembling most popular chatbots. It lets Apple users "manage multiple conversations across different topics" and can "save and reference past chats, follow up on earlier queries and support extended back-and-forth exchanges." As Bloomberg notes, Apple executives have expressed doubt in the usefulness of chatbot interfaces for artificial intelligence features. In an interview with Joanna Stern at WWDC this year, Apple's Craig Federighi said Apple wants to build an experience that is "integrated into everything you do, not a bolt-on chatbot on the side." Do you think Apple should release a ChatGPT-style chatbot app to the public, or should it focus on integrating similar features into the dedicated Siri interface?

Apple Testing LLM Siri With ChatGPT-Like App

Apple designed a ChatGPT-like app to help its engineers test the overhauled version of Siri, reports Bloomberg</em>. Unfortunately, the Siri app isn't going to be released to the public, and it's strictly for internal testing. The app is being used to test new Siri features that Apple has planned, such as more contextual awareness, an ability to do more in and between apps, and deeper integration with personal data. It is said to look similar to other chatbot apps, organized into multiple conversations across different topics. The app is able to remember and reference past chats, and it supports extended conversations. Apple has been working on a smarter version of Siri since the launch of iOS 18. The company initially planned to debut an Apple Intelligence Siri as part of the update, but ended up delaying the functionality until 2026 because it did not meet Apple's standards. The Apple Intelligence Siri plan was scrapped, and Apple decided to entirely overhaul Siri with second-generation architecture, speeding up an LLM transition. The upcoming version of Siri that Apple plans to release will use advanced large language models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and other AI chatbots. LLM Siri will be able to hold continuous conversations, provide human-like responses to questions, and complete more complex tasks. Apple is on track to launch the LLM version of Siri in early 2026, likely as part of an iOS 26.4 update that could come in March. That will see Siri introduced a full year after Apple originally wanted launch the updated version of the personal assistant. At the end of next year, Apple is planning to unveil a new look for Siri, giving it a more humanoid design that could be similar to the Mac's finder logo. Apple has held talks with Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, and it may use a third-party company to power the new version of Siri rather than relying on its in-house AI models.

Siri 2.0 coming soon? Apple's secret ChatGPT-style app built to test new features before launch

Apple Siri upgrade: Apple is internally testing a ChatGPT-style app, 'Veritas', to prepare for a major Siri upgrade, now expected as early as March next year after technical delays. The company aims for a revamped Siri to handle complex tasks, exploring partnerships with AI leaders like Google, as CEO Tim Cook stresses the importance of winning in AI. Apple Siri upgrade: Apple is quietly testing a ChatGPT-style iPhone app as part of preparations for a major Siri upgrade expected next year, as per a Bloomberg report. The app, code-named 'Veritas', which is Latin for "truth", is being used internally by Apple's AI division. Its purpose is to help employees evaluate new Siri features more efficiently, such as searching personal data like songs and emails, or performing in-app actions like editing photos, as per the Bloomberg report. For now, Apple has no plans to release the app publicly, as per the report. The internal tool resembles other popular AI chatbots, allowing multiple conversations across different topics, referencing past chats, and supporting extended back-and-forth exchanges, as per the report. It is also being used to test a new underlying system, 'Linwood', which combines Apple's in-house large language models with a third-party model, as per Bloomberg. ALSO READ: iOS 26 slowing your iPhone? 10 hidden features you must switch off now to save battery & speed Apple has faced multiple delays in bringing the new Siri to market. Originally slated for release last spring, the rollout was pushed back after engineering problems caused features to fail up to a third of the time. The upgraded Siri is now expected as early as March, reported Bloomberg. The company hopes the revamped assistant will handle tasks current versions cannot, such as acting on what's displayed on a user's screen and enabling smoother device navigation, reported Bloomberg. Even without public release, the Veritas app marks a significant step in Apple's high-stakes push to reshape its AI future. ALSO READ: How to customize your iPhone lock screen on iOS 26 to match your style CEO Tim Cook has told employees that Apple must "win in AI," calling it the biggest transformation in decades, saying, "This is sort of ours to grab. We will make the investment to do it," as quoted in the report. The company is also working on a redesigned Siri interface, AI-powered smart home devices like HomePod and Apple TV, and an expansion into AI-driven web search, as reported by Bloomberg. Apple has previously held talks with OpenAI and Anthropic and is now in discussions with Google about using a custom version of its Gemini platform to help power the new Siri, as per the report. ALSO READ: Ryder Cup 2025 opens with tragedy as Jake Knapp's girlfriend Makena White dies aged 28 The overhaul has also led to leadership shifts within Apple's AI division. John Giannandrea, who had been leading AI efforts, was sidelined earlier this year, while Robby Walker, who once oversaw Siri, will leave the company in October, according to Bloomberg. His newly formed AKI (Answers, Knowledge, and Information) team is now central to building AI-based search into the updated Siri, as per the report. When is the new Siri expected to launch? As early as March next year, according to Bloomberg. What is Apple's Veritas app? It's an internal ChatGPT-style app Apple is using to test new Siri features. (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)

Apple Trails Rivals with ChatGPT-Like Siri App Still in Testing | PYMNTS.com

According to Bloomberg, the software code-named Veritas, Latin for "truth," is meant for internal use, at least for now. Apple has no current plans to release it to consumers. The project further underscores Apple's late arrival in generative AI. OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google Gemini already power consumer-facing assistants, while Microsoft has embedded Copilot across Windows and Office and recently expanded it with Anthropic models. These products are live in the market, while Apple's ChatGPT-style app remains locked in a sandbox phase accessible only to employees. The cautious stance was evident at the iPhone 17 launch, where executives emphasized chip performance and design upgrades. AI features such as live translation in Messages, FaceTime, and visual recognition in Photos were mentioned briefly, but most had been previewed months earlier at Apple's developer conference. The shift marked a reversal from the iPhone 16 debut, when AI took center stage before delays slowed deployment. Apple's prolonged testing phase could leave it behind in shaping consumer expectations. A Bloomberg investigation noted Siri has already lost relevance, while Tokenist reported that Apple risks a "Nokia moment" if it fails to deliver robust AI features soon. By contrast, rivals are collecting vast consumer data from products already deployed at scale. If Apple keeps its most ambitious AI features in the testing stage for too long, competitors may set the standard for consumer-facing AI. Apple's internal app signals that the company recognizes the stakes, but by keeping it in testing while rivals scale, it risks being too late to redefine Siri's role in the generative AI race. Even without a consumer rollout, the internal app signals a new stage in Apple's push to rebuild Siri, a release seen as critical to changing perceptions of the company's AI strategy. After repeated delays, the upgraded Siri is now expected to launch as early as March. For all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily AI Newsletter.

Apple develops ChatGPT-like app to test Siri overhaul - Bloomberg By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Apple Inc. has created an internal ChatGPT-style iPhone app to test features for a major Siri redesign planned for next year. The app, code-named "Veritas" (Latin for "truth"), is being used by Apple's AI division to evaluate new capabilities for its voice assistant, including searching through personal data like songs and emails, and performing actions within apps such as photo editing. According to a report from Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter, the tool is designed exclusively for internal testing and Apple currently has no plans to release it to consumers. The app takes technology from the upcoming Siri update and presents it in a format that allows employees to test it more efficiently while gathering feedback on the chatbot approach. This internal testing represents a significant step in Apple's preparation for the Siri overhaul, which could substantially impact perceptions of the company's AI capabilities. After multiple delays, the redesigned Siri is now expected to launch as early as March. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.