Apple’s highly anticipated AI Siri overhaul, which has been embarrassingly delayed, may finally make its debut on the latest iPhones later this year, as per a recent report from The New York Times.
The report sheds light on Apple’s current struggles with AI, particularly Apple Intelligence, rather than artificial intelligence. Alleged insiders at Apple have revealed that the company is facing challenges such as political infighting, cost-cutting measures, and a talent drain within its AI division.
There has been a recent executive reshuffle that resulted in former Siri lead John Giannandrea being reassigned. However, the most promising aspect of the report is the confirmation that Apple’s AI-enhanced Siri is still on track for a release later this year, with a specific mention of an autumn launch window.
While the report does not provide a specific date, it is safe to assume that the new AI Siri could be released alongside iOS 19 in September or shortly thereafter, considering that autumn spans across September, October, and November in the Northern Hemisphere.
Why is this new AI Siri release date considered positive news? Just last month, Apple had to clarify that the smarter Siri would be arriving “in the coming year,” leading many to speculate that it would be delayed until early 2026. The fact that Apple actually meant within the current calendar year is seen as progress.
Initially, the revamped Siri was set to launch shortly after iOS 18 but faced setbacks due to inaccurate responses to user queries. The new Siri was expected to be a highlight of the iPhone 16 advertising campaign, which had to be revised. Reports suggest that nearly a third of requests to the new Siri were met with inaccurate responses.
The upcoming Apple Intelligence-infused Siri is expected to be more contextually aware than its predecessor, allowing it to function seamlessly across various apps and analyze on-screen content. Users will be able to follow up on previous interactions with Siri without repeating the context, and the assistant will have the ability to control specific app functions directly.
These enhancements aim to bring Siri up to speed with competing virtual assistants like Google Assistant and Gemini, which have surpassed Siri in terms of functionality since its launch in 2011. The new Siri is poised to provide a much-needed boost to Apple’s virtual assistant capabilities and offer users a more seamless and intuitive experience.
