Apple’s AI-Powered Siri Delayed Until 2026

Apple’s WWDC 25 event, held from June 9th to June 13th 2025, showcased major updates across the Apple ecosystem, including iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and visionOS enhancements. 

One of the most anticipated announcements was the Liquid Glass design, a sleek, translucent interface overhaul inspired by Apple Vision Pro. Apple also introduced Live Translation, allowing real-time translations in Messages, FaceTime, and phone calls. Additionally, the company unveiled a new Games app, integrating Game Center, Arcade, and multiplayer features into a unified hub.

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Transcript

Apple’s WWDC 25 event, held from June 9th to June 13th 2025, showcased major updates across the Apple ecosystem, including iOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and visionOS enhancements. One of the most anticipated announcements was the Liquid Glass design, a sleek, translucent interface overhaul inspired by Apple Vision Pro. Apple also introduced Live Translation, allowing real-time translations in Messages, FaceTime, and phone calls. Additionally, the company unveiled a new Games app, integrating Game Center, Arcade, and multiplayer features into a unified hub.

Welcome to this special bonus episode of The Digital Revolution with Jim Kunkle!

On this bonus episode. I’ll be covering Apple’s surprise announcement during their WWDC25 event, on the delayed release of the new AI-powered Siri, until 2026.

So, What Was Announced at WWDC25?

First let me mention that Apple’s broader AI strategy is centered around on-device intelligence, ensuring privacy while integrating AI across iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and visionOS. 

At WWDC25, Apple unveiled Apple Intelligence, a suite of AI-powered features designed to enhance user experience without compromising security. This includes Live Translation, AI-driven Visual Intelligence, and Image Playground with ChatGPT integration. Unlike competitors relying on cloud-based AI, Apple is prioritizing on-device processing, allowing AI features to function even when offline. Developers now have access to Apple’s on-device foundation model, enabling them to integrate AI into apps while maintaining Apple’s strict privacy standards.

One of the most anticipated AI advancements, AI-powered Siri, has been delayed until spring 2026, due to the need for a complete V2 architecture rebuild. Apple initially attempted to graft modern AI onto Siri’s existing framework, but internal reports described the effort as a “wreck”, leading to cascading bugs and reliability issues. The new Siri promises on-screen awareness, personal context understanding, and complex in-app automation, but Apple insists these features must meet its high-quality standards before release. While competitors like Google and Amazon are aggressively rolling out AI assistants, Apple is taking a measured approach, ensuring its AI ecosystem is deeply integrated rather than rushed. This delay raises questions about Apple’s ability to compete in the AI space, but it also reinforces its commitment to privacy-first AI innovation.

Why Is AI-Powered Siri Delayed Until 2026?

Apple’s decision to delay its AI-powered Siri until 2026 stems from concerns over reliability and accuracy, as revealed by Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi. Initially showcased at WWDC24, the enhanced Siri was expected to introduce on-screen awareness, personal context understanding, and complex in-app automation. However, internal testing showed that these features only performed correctly about two-thirds of the time, failing to meet Apple’s high-quality standards. Federighi admitted that Apple’s first approach, known as the V1 architecture, was fundamentally flawed, leading to cascading bugs and inconsistent responses. Instead of pushing out an unreliable product, Apple opted for a complete V2 architecture rebuild, prioritizing user trust and dependability over rushing to market.

One of the biggest challenges Apple faces is natural language processing and contextual awareness. Unlike competitors like Google Assistant and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which rely heavily on cloud-based AI models, Apple is committed to on-device AI processing to ensure privacy and security. While this approach enhances data protection, it also limits Siri’s ability to leverage large-scale AI models for real-time learning and adaptation. Apple’s AI team struggled to merge legacy Siri code with new AI capabilities, leading to performance inconsistencies. As Apple refines its AI strategy, the company must balance privacy-first AI development with the need for advanced NLP capabilities, ensuring Siri evolves into a truly intelligent assistant rather than a frustrating voice interface.

The Impact of the Delay on Apple’s AI Strategy.

Apple’s delay of its AI-powered Siri until 2026 has significant implications for its overall AI strategy, raising concerns about its ability to compete in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Initially introduced at WWDC24, the upgraded Siri was expected to bring on-screen awareness, personal context understanding, and advanced in-app automation. However, Apple’s internal testing revealed that the assistant only performed correctly two-thirds of the time, failing to meet the company’s high-quality standards. This setback forced Apple to rebuild Siri’s architecture from the ground up, shifting from its flawed V1 framework to a more advanced V2 architecture. While Apple insists this delay is necessary to ensure reliability, it also highlights the company’s struggles in AI development, especially as competitors like Google, OpenAI, and Amazon continue to push forward with AI-powered assistants.

The delay has broader consequences for Apple’s AI ecosystem, affecting consumer trust, developer engagement, and market positioning. Apple’s cautious approach to AI contrasts sharply with rivals who are rapidly integrating generative AI into their products. Investors have expressed concerns that Apple is falling behind in the AI race, with some analysts predicting that the company is years away from delivering a truly modern AI assistant. To mitigate this, Apple has partnered with OpenAI, allowing Siri to redirect complex queries to ChatGPT. Additionally, Apple is expanding AI-powered features across its platforms, including Live Translation, AI-driven Visual Intelligence, and an upgraded Shortcuts app. While these advancements demonstrate Apple’s commitment to AI, the Siri delay underscores the company’s ongoing challenges in AI integration. The key question remains: Can Apple catch up, or will its slow approach to AI innovation leave it trailing behind?

What’s Next for AI-Powered Siri?

Apple’s AI-powered Siri is now slated for release in March 2026 as part of iOS 26.4, marking a significant shift in Apple’s AI strategy. The upgraded Siri aims to handle complex, multi-step tasks, integrating deeply with user data and on-screen content for a more seamless experience. Apple executives, including Craig Federighi, have confirmed that the delay was necessary due to architectural limitations in the initial version. The company initially attempted to build Siri’s AI capabilities on its existing framework, but internal testing revealed a failure rate of about one-third, making it unreliable for public release. To address this, Apple is rebuilding Siri’s core technology, known as Siri Large Language Model, from the ground up to ensure stability and performance.

The next-generation Siri is expected to act as a digital copilot, capable of scheduling tasks, answering contextual questions, and interacting with apps more intuitively. For example, Siri could pull details from a calendar and email to plan a meeting without manual input. Apple is also exploring a chatbot-like app called Knowledge, which could tap into the open web for broader, real-time answers. While these features sound promising, their success hinges on execution. Apple’s cautious “in the coming year” phrasing avoids locking in a firm date, leaving room for further adjustments. With competitors like Google and Amazon advancing their AI assistants, Apple’s ability to deliver a high-quality, proactive Siri will be critical in maintaining its position in the AI-driven future.
 
Well, that wraps up this bonus episode of: The Digital Revolution with Jim Kunkle. I hope you enjoyed today’s digital transformation topic and found this episode both insightful and thought-provoking. Your continued support means the world to us, it’s what keeps this podcast thriving and evolving. 

Thank you for being part of the Digital Revolution community and for joining the series on this journey through the ever-changing world of digital innovation and revolution. Until next time, stay curious, stay inspired, and, as always, keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible!