Apple’s much-anticipated AI-powered Siri upgrade is not expected to arrive until 2026. After teasing the new capabilities at WWDC 2024, the company delayed its release following quality and reliability concerns. Apple’s senior executives recently explained the reasons behind the postponement and outlined what users can expect when the new Siri finally launches.
What’s Happening & Why This Matters
Apple first showcased an upgraded AI-powered Siri at WWDC 2024 last year, highlighting its potential to interact seamlessly across multiple apps. For example, Siri could locate a driver’s license photo in Apple Photos, extract the ID number, and automatically fill it into an online form.
However, in March 2025, Apple confirmed the launch would be delayed. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, and Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak, explained the decision.
Joswiak said, “We don’t want to disappoint customers. It would have been disappointing to ship something that didn’t meet our quality standards or had an unacceptable error rate.” Federighi added that the feature did not “work reliably enough to be an Apple product.”
He also believes no other AI assistant on the market currently automates processes across devices as reliably as Apple intends. This commitment to quality reflects Apple’s approach to product development.
In recent discussions with TechRadar and Tom’s Guide, Joswiak clarified that the delay means the AI-powered Siri won’t launch until 2026. Previously, Apple’s wording about the feature arriving in the “coming year” was unclear about the exact timeline.
Federighi indicated that the feature might debut in a later version of iOS 26 or possibly in iOS 27, stating, “We will announce the date when we’re ready to seed it.”
The delay stems from the underlying architecture of the AI assistant. Apple worked on two versions simultaneously, with the newer one running on a “deeper end-to-end architecture.” Federighi explained, “We realized that pushing out the first version wouldn’t meet expectations, so we shifted to the second architecture.”
In a conversation with YouTuber iJustine, Federighi reaffirmed that Apple plans to deliver all previously announced Siri features. He also hinted at additional upcoming capabilities but said the company will wait to announce them until the product is ready for release.
This upgraded Siri promises enhanced cross-app awareness and automation that could redefine how users interact with their devices. However, Apple prioritizes a smooth, reliable experience over rushing to market.
TF Summary: What’s Next
Apple delays its AI-powered Siri launch until 2026 due to concerns over reliability and quality. The company focuses on delivering a seamless assistant that automates tasks across apps with a robust new architecture.
Users can expect Siri to eventually integrate deeply into iOS, improving everyday workflows with intelligent automation. Apple will reveal the exact release timeline when the product is fully prepared.
For now, Apple’s cautious approach demonstrates its commitment to delivering a superior customer experience and technological excellence in AI.
— Text-to-Speech (TTS) provided by gspeech