Report: Apple’s AI Plans for Siri Face Setbacks, Possible Delays
Reports indicate that Apple’s plans to revamp its Siri voice assistant with advanced AI capabilities have encountered significant hurdles, potentially pushing back the launch of these new features.
A Bloomberg report suggests that Apple’s internal discussions regarding the Siri project reveal that the project may be delayed. During an internal meeting, Apple senior director Robby Walker reportedly addressed the Siri team, calling the delay an “ugly” situation.
Walker acknowledged that the new Siri features might not be ready for release with iOS 19, but noted, according to the report, “doesn’t mean that we’re shipping then.”
Previously, Apple had aimed to launch the updated Siri features in June, coinciding with its mobile software updates, but there have been delays. The Verge noted that Apple planned to launch the AI-enhanced Siri last June to compete with competitors.
Prior to the recent report, a delay was reported to Daring Fireball, with the launch possibly happening with iOS 18.4. Some reports noted that the project, known internally as “LLM Siri,” could be delayed until 2027.
Apple might also be prioritizing other projects. The company is rumored to have several upcoming hardware launches in addition to iOS 19 rollouts. Reports indicate the brand plans to improve integration between its platforms to provide a better experience.
Apple is expected to reveal these updates at the World Wide Developers Conference in June, which could contribute to further delays for the Siri project.
“We have other commitments across Apple to other projects. We want to keep our commitments to those, and we understand those are now potentially more timeline-urgent than the features that have been deferred,” Walker stated, according to the Bloomberg report.
While there has only been one official Apple statement, senior executives are reportedly closely watching the progress of the project. Walker indicated to the Siri team that software chief Craig Federighi and AI head John Giannandrea are taking “intense personal accountability” for the advanced features of Siri “taking longer than expected.”
In an earlier Bloomberg report, Federighi reportedly expressed concerns about features malfunctioning during internal testing.
Walker assured his team that their progress on the project was commendable, and that Siri’s AI features would be released when they were ready.
“Customers are not expecting only these new features, but they also want a more fully rounded-out Siri. These are not quite ready to go to the general public, even though our competitors might have launched them in this state or worse,” he said.