According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s plan to introduce a ChatGPT-style conversational Siri has been significantly delayed. Due to internal setbacks and technical challenges, the fully upgraded AI assistant is now unlikely to launch before 2027.
Apple’s Siri AI Delayed
The ambitious plan to revamp Siri with advanced AI capabilities has hit significant roadblocks, pushing the release of a fully conversational version to at least 2027. Initially slated for iOS 19 in 2026, the project, internally known as “LLM Siri,” faces delays due to the complex task of merging Siri’s dual-system architecture. This setback means users will have to wait until iOS 20 or later to experience a ChatGPT-like interaction with Apple’s voice assistant.
- Phase One: The first phase of the AI overhaul, focusing on backend integration, is expected in iOS 19.4 by 2026. This initial update will primarily address technical issues without significant user-facing improvements.
- Market Impact: The delay impacts Apple’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving AI assistant market.
- Development Status: Internal sources suggest the company is “still racing to finish the software” for the AI upgrade.
Technical Challenges Behind Delay
The delay in Siri’s AI upgrade stems from significant technical hurdles in merging two separate systems: one handling basic commands and another for advanced AI responses. This split architecture has led to performance issues, forcing Apple to allocate more time for integration. The company’s AI team is grappling with the complexities of combining these disparate systems while maintaining functionality and improving overall performance. Additionally, software bugs and engineering problems have further complicated the development process, with reports suggesting that Apple is “still racing to finish the software”.
- Dual-System Integration Challenges: The integration of a dual-system architecture is proving more challenging than anticipated.
- Performance Issues: The separation of basic and advanced AI functionalities has caused performance problems.
- Development Hurdles: Software bugs and engineering obstacles are slowing down development.
- Rushed Schedule: Apple’s Intelligence team rushed to meet deadlines, leading to setbacks.
