Apple users eager for a major upgrade to Siri may have to wait much longer than expected. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s AI team believes that a truly modern, conversational version of Siri won’t arrive until at least iOS 20 in 2027.
While Apple plans to roll out a large language model (LLM)-powered Siri upgrade in iOS 18.5, Gurman reports that this version will work separately from the current Siri system. The issue, he notes, is that this approach doesn’t function as smoothly as it should. Apple’s long-term goal is to merge the two systems into a single, more advanced Siri architecture, but this process is running behind schedule.
What Apple Planned vs. The Reality?
Initially, Apple aimed to introduce the new Siri architecture in iOS 19.4, enabling the assistant to handle both simple commands (like setting timers) and more advanced AI-powered tasks, such as understanding context from a user’s personal details or what’s on their screen. However, delays mean that this won’t be ready in time for WWDC 2025, where Apple typically unveils major software updates.
Apple isn’t alone in its struggles. Amazon has also faced challenges modernizing Alexa. Amazon’s head of Devices and Services, Panos Panay, recently revealed that the company had to completely rebuild Alexa’s system to integrate old and new AI capabilities. The upgraded Alexa Plus is now rolling out in early access, but only to selected devices.
Why Siri’s AI Upgrade Is Delayed?
Several factors are holding back Apple’s AI progress. According to Gurman, Apple’s AI models are reaching their limits, and the company has struggled to secure the necessary AI training hardware to enhance Siri’s capabilities.
Additionally, internal issues within Apple’s AI department have worsened the situation. Gurman describes problems with ineffective leadership, leading to a wave of employee departures to rival AI companies. As Apple faces these setbacks, competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft continue making rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.
The Future of Siri
Despite the delays, Apple remains committed to improving Siri. The planned LLM-powered Siri in iOS 18.5 will introduce some AI enhancements, but the fully reimagined version will take at least a few more years to develop.
As AI assistants become smarter and more useful, Apple risks falling behind unless it accelerates its AI strategy. Whether Siri will eventually catch up—or continue to lag behind Alexa, Google Assistant, and ChatGPT—remains an open question.
The Information is Collected from The Verge and MSN.
