Smarter Siri with AI Features May Arrive in 2026 iOS Update

Apple’s redesigned Siri assistant, powered by artificial intelligence and large language models, is now expected to launch with iOS 26.4 in March 2026, according to sources cited in a Bloomberg report. The revised timeline follows prolonged internal delays and technical challenges.

Apple first previewed the new AI-enhanced Siri during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024. Though promoted alongside the iPhone 16 lineup, the advanced voice assistant features were not included in the initial software release. Apple later confirmed that the revamped Siri would be introduced "next year," a phrasing that left ambiguity about the precise launch window.

Insiders familiar with the development process stated that Siri's delay was caused by persistent failures in an experimental architecture that attempted to integrate the original Siri codebase with new AI-driven capabilities. During internal testing, the hybrid system recorded failure rates as high as 33 per cent, prompting Apple engineers to revise their approach.

During WWDC 2025, held this month, Apple opted not to preview features not included in current beta versions. This marked a shift from its typical strategy and signaled a move toward deploying only tested and nearly finalized capabilities.

Executives Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak recently told *The Wall Street Journal* that Apple will continue taking a measured approach, focusing on delivering a reliable product instead of rushing ahead of competitors. Apple is prioritizing performance and accuracy over speed, they noted.

The Siri redesign forms part of a broader initiative referred to internally as Apple Intelligence. The new assistant is expected to offer deeper integration with on-screen content and user data, enabling more complex and context-aware commands.

In parallel, Apple is working on additional AI projects:

* Knowledge: A web-connected chatbot project, reportedly under the leadership of Robby Walker, intended to serve as an internal knowledge retrieval system. While it shares similarities with prior initiatives like Ajax and Ask, it is not yet confirmed for public release.

* Siri-Copilot: An ambient assistant function currently in development. Designed to run in the background, this tool will provide real-time recommendations, suggest actions, and execute tasks independently. Its functionality may mirror new features like Workout Buddy introduced in watchOS 26.

Organizational restructuring has also accompanied the extended development period. John Giannandrea, who previously oversaw AI and Siri development, has reportedly been reassigned from consumer-facing projects.

Despite setbacks, Apple remains committed to evolving Siri into a more intelligent and proactive digital assistant. The company continues refining its LLM-powered foundation to ensure robust performance across devices before public deployment.