"Apple says it’s making “good progress” on the long-delayed Siri AI upgrade and is opening the door to more AI partnerships beyond ChatGPT."
Apple’s Siri makeover: What’s happening?
During the recent earnings call, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook confirmed the company is “making good progress” on the long-awaited AI enhancements to Siri, the voice assistant built into iPhones and other Apple devices. (MacRumors)
Why was Siri delayed?
Originally announced at WWDC 2024, the upgraded Siri was supposed to bring AI-powered features like personal context and deep app integration. But in early 2025 Apple pushed the rollout back after noting that the initial performance “didn’t work reliably enough to be an Apple product.” (The Verge)
When can we expect the new Siri?
According to Cook, the enhanced Siri update remains on track for a spring 2026 release — likely as part of iOS 26.4 in March. (MacRumors)
What’s new in the upgrade?
The forthcoming version of Siri promises:
- Better context awareness — understanding your schedule, flights, messages.
- On-screen content recognition — being aware of what’s displayed and acting accordingly.
- Deep integration with apps — handling multi-step commands across Mail, Messages, Calendar, and more. (MacRumors)
How Apple is changing the AI game
Beyond the assistant itself, Apple is also broadening its AI strategy. The company plans to go beyond its existing ChatGPT partnership by integrating other AI models and providers. Cook declined to name specific companies but confirmed the intent. Reports suggest discussions with Gemini (from Google LLC) and others are on the table. (Business Standard)
Here’s a quick comparison:
| Feature | Current Siri | Upcoming Siri (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Context awareness | Limited | High – uses personal data across apps |
| App integration | Basic | Deep, multi-step tasks |
| AI models used | Apple + ChatGPT | Apple + multiple AI providers |
Why this matters to you
For general tech users, this means Siri could finally feel more “intelligent” and helpful rather than a basic voice assistant. Interactions like asking “What time is my mom’s flight and where should I pick her up?” could become more natural. It also signals how Apple views AI: not just as a feature, but as a platform shift. And for Apple, it’s a strategic moment — the company reported a record quarter with $102.5 billion in revenue, up 8 % year-on-year. (Business Insider)
FAQs
Q: Will the new Siri work on all iPhones?
A: While Apple hasn’t confirmed the exact list of devices, typically such major updates support recent iPhone models that can run the latest iOS. Expect it on iPhone 17 and likely later models.
Q: Is Apple relying solely on ChatGPT for Siri’s intelligence?
A: No. Apple already uses ChatGPT for some features, but it is actively exploring additional AI models and providers to broaden Siri’s capabilities. (Gadgets360)
Q: Why did Apple delay the launch of the upgraded Siri?
A: According to internal comments, the early version didn’t meet Apple’s standards for reliability and quality — the company chose to delay rather than ship a sub-par product. (The Verge)
Final thoughts
Apple’s upcoming Siri overhaul is more than just a feature update — it hints at the company’s broader AI ambition. By combining in-device smarts, on-screen awareness, deep app integration and multiple AI model partnerships, the promise is a voice assistant that finally lives up to the hype. If Apple pulls it off, 2026 could mark a turning point for how we interact with our devices.
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