Apple has officially announced that some of its much-anticipated AI enhancements for Siri will be delayed until 2026. The tech giant had initially planned to roll out these features in 2025, but in a statement on Friday, Apple revealed that it needs more time to refine them.
Why Is Apple Delaying Siri’s AI Upgrades?
Apple did not specify the exact reason for the delay, but the company assured users that the improvements are still in the works. According to Apple, the goal is to make Siri more personalized and context-aware, allowing it to take actions across apps based on user data.
“We’ve been working on a more personalized Siri, giving it more awareness of your personal context, as well as the ability to take action for you within and across your apps. It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features, and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year,” Apple stated.
What New Features Were Expected?
Apple’s AI-driven initiative, called Apple Intelligence, includes features like email rewriting and inbox summarization. However, the biggest improvements were aimed at transforming Siri into a more capable virtual assistant.
Some of the expected enhancements include:
- The ability to switch between apps and execute tasks based on stored user data.
- Personalized recommendations, such as pulling up a podcast suggested by a friend.
- Improved access to information, like retrieving a relative’s flight details.
Despite the delay, Apple remains committed to its privacy-first approach. The company has been investing heavily in cloud computing infrastructure powered by its own chips to ensure AI-driven features remain secure and private.
Competition in AI-Powered Assistants Heats Up
Apple’s delay comes at a time when its competitors are rapidly advancing their AI-powered voice assistants.
- Google has already integrated its Gemini AI model into Google Assistant, bringing smarter responses and improved functionality.
- Amazon recently overhauled Alexa with new AI capabilities, offering the advanced version for free to Prime members while charging $19.99 per month for other users.
With rivals moving forward at full speed, Apple’s delay raises concerns about whether Siri will be able to keep up with the competition.
What’s Next for Siri?
Apple processes 1.5 billion Siri requests daily, highlighting the assistant’s importance in its ecosystem. While the delay is frustrating for some users, it could also indicate that Apple is taking extra time to perfect its AI capabilities rather than rushing out unfinished features.
Whether this delay will impact Apple’s competitive edge remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—AI-powered voice assistants are becoming a major battleground in the tech industry.
