Prime Highlights
- Apple has delayed its significant Siri AI overhaul to iOS 26.4, possibly released in spring 2026.
- The update, which should integrate deeply with user data and screen material, has been held back by development challenges.
Key Facts
- Originally on track for iOS 18, the Siri update now aims for iOS 26.4 after ongoing internal delays.
- Apple is struggling with legacy system integration and performance issues in Siri’s new AI model.
- Craig Federighi and Mike Rockwell now lead the overhaul, taking charge from former AI head John Giannandrea.
Key Background
Apple has been teasing a groundbreaking update to Siri based on large language models (LLMs) at WWDC 2024, with the promise of an intelligent, context-aware assistant. This iteration was supposed to recognize user intent from personal information such as emails, calendar appointments, and screen material, and carry out intricate commands within apps. But in spite of substantial hype, Apple has been repeatedly pushing back the release of this feature.
First slated to arrive with iOS 18, AI-enhanced Siri has instead been pushed to iOS 26.4, due out in spring 2026. The delay is due to profound technical issues. Apple had tried to combine its current Siri infrastructure with the new LLM-backed backend but discovered internal testing showed the hybrid model was unstable—breaking one-third of the use cases.
Consequently, Apple had to redesign the architecture from scratch. This has caused a significant leadership change for the company. The initial lead of the Siri AI project, John Giannandrea, has stepped back, and Senior Vice President Craig Federighi and Vision Products Group head Mike Rockwell have taken over the project.
At the same time, Apple has introduced some generative AI features throughout its ecosystem under the “Apple Intelligence” moniker—e.g., text summarization, Genmoji, notification management, and writing aids. Those are characterized as incremental steps forward relative to the revolutionary boost that is anticipated from the Siri revamp.
Internally, the delays have resulted in frustration. Apple executives and engineers admit that they promised too much and delivered too little, resulting in criticism and even legal recourse for the possibility of deceptive advertising. Though, the company has since taken a more conservative approach to the future, prioritizing quality, user privacy, and reliability.
Apple’s current intention is to unveil the rebuilt Siri AI in iOS 26.4, planning a smooth and intelligent assistant that truly improves user experience. In the meantime, users will be forced to do with the features at hand while waiting for more ambitious changes still underway.
