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.
Apple delays Siri upgrade
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:
- Slow response times and misinterpreted queries.
- A bug that cuts off users speaking quickly.
- Siri sometimes defaults to ChatGPT instead of Apple’s own technology.
- Advanced app commands (app intents), which allow tasks like finding, editing, and sending an image in a single voice command, are delayed.
- Internal builds of iOS 26.5 include a toggle to preview personal-data features, indicating Apple may notify users if functionality is incomplete.
- Unannounced features such as web search and custom image generation are being tested in iOS 26.5 but remain experimental.
- The update is built on Apple’s new Linwood architecture, leveraging Apple Foundations Models alongside Google Gemini technology.
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.
Looking Ahead
Apple plans a major overhaul in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 under the “Campo” project. The next-generation Siri will:
- Function more like a chatbot.
- Integrate across the operating system.
- Access personal data securely.
- Rely on custom AI servers powered by Google Gemini technology.
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.