Apple delays its Siri upgrade plans ‘indefinitely’ due to AI concerns

Apple Ihas confirmed a significant delay in its ambitious plans to enhance Siri, its digital assistant, with AI-driven personalized features. Originally slated for the upcoming iOS 18.4 update this April, the advanced capabilities that would allow Siri to tap into personal data for more tailored responses and offer better control over apps will now be released sometime in the “coming year.” This marks a setback for Apple’s AI ambitions, which had already faced internal challenges and skepticism.

The features were first showcased last June during the Worldwide Developers Conference, where Apple introduced its Apple Intelligence AI platform. At the time, the company promised users a smarter, more intuitive Siri. However, according to sources within the company, engineers have been struggling to resolve persistent bugs, and the project has faced significant hurdles. Initially, there were hopes to release the features as part of the iOS 18.4 update in April, but those expectations were revised after reports surfaced in February about delays. Apple now projects the features could be ready as late as 2026.

Internal concerns have been mounting, with high-level executives, including software chief Craig Federighi, expressing doubts about the functionality of the new features. Personal testing by Apple leaders showed that the capabilities did not meet the company’s standards, according to unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Some within Apple’s AI division have even suggested that the features could be scrapped entirely and rebuilt from scratch, further delaying the rollout.

This setback is especially damaging to Apple’s reputation as a leader in innovation, given the company’s high-profile marketing campaign that promoted these features as part of the iPhone 16 launch. With the Siri improvements no longer expected to arrive until iOS 19 in 2026, and a fully refined version possibly not reaching users until 2027, the delay has raised questions about Apple’s ability to compete with rivals in the AI space, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google.

In response to the growing frustration, Apple has instructed its AppleCare support team to reassure customers that the new Siri features will be available “in the coming year.” The delay, however, signals that Apple may face significant challenges in meeting its AI promises and risks falling behind in a rapidly evolving market.

Apple’s leadership in AI has come under scrutiny, with some employees questioning whether the company’s CEO, Tim Cook, or its board should intervene to overhaul the AI division’s management. The company has recently appointed Kim Vorrath, a veteran software leader, to spearhead efforts to get the AI division back on track.

As Apple grapples with these delays, its focus appears to be shifting toward integrating Apple Intelligence into existing apps, rather than unveiling new AI breakthroughs at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference.