Prime Highlights:
Apple delays the release of Siri’s advanced AI features until 2026, initially expected this spring.
Features include Siri interacting with third-party apps and using personal context to perform tasks like auto-filling forms.
Key Background:
Apple has announced a delay in the release of Siri’s advanced AI capabilities, pushing the launch of the highly anticipated features to 2026. Initially slated for release this spring, these updates aimed to significantly enhance Siri’s functionality by enabling it to interact with third-party apps and utilize personal context to perform tasks such as auto-filling forms using information from user-provided documents, like driver’s licenses.
This delay comes at a time when the competitive pressure on Apple is intensifying, as generative AI technologies rapidly advance. The company risks falling behind competitors like OpenAI, Amazon, and Google, who are also enhancing their voice assistants with cutting-edge AI capabilities. OpenAI’s ChatGPT, which debuted in late 2022, has set a high bar, and Amazon has already announced plans to upgrade its Alexa assistant, while Google is developing its Gemini assistant.
The postponed Siri features were a part of Apple’s broader efforts to integrate AI technology more deeply into its ecosystem. At a demonstration last summer, Apple showcased how Siri could seamlessly coordinate multiple apps to help users, such as planning a meal after a flight. However, those demonstrations will not come to fruition in the near term.
Apple also highlighted the challenge of ensuring that its next-generation voice assistant is both highly functional and conversational. Despite this setback, some improvements have already been rolled out for devices that support Apple Intelligence, such as more natural conversations and features that allow the generation of text, images, and notifications.
Apple is also relying on third-party developers to contribute to the creation of new app functionalities—referred to as “app intents”—that will enable Siri to integrate more deeply with apps once these supercharged features are launched. The company is expected to share more details about the AI assistant at its WWDC event in June.
