Apple’s Siri Update Delays Causing Concern
Development Difficulties and Delayed Release
Apple’s AI-powered voice assistant, Siri, is facing significant development challenges, resulting in a potential delay of one to two years in its evolution towards a fluid conversational mode. According to sources inside Apple, the updated version of Siri will not be available before iOS 20, scheduled for the end of 2026. The delay could even push the release back to 2027.
Major Overhaul Planned
The updated version of Siri will benefit from a major overhaul, combining its current architecture with large-scale advanced language models. The goal is to provide a more natural and intuitive user experience, enabling Siri to understand and process more sophisticated queries and interact contextually with third-party applications.
New Capabilities and Features
The updated Siri will be able to perform tasks such as writing messages, planning itineraries, and managing tasks, all while taking into account each user’s preferences. This evolution will significantly enhance the user experience, making it more seamless and user-friendly.
Challenges and Setbacks
The delays are attributed to technical challenges, compounded by the departure of some employees to competing companies. To limit the damage, an interim update is expected this year, but it will be challenging to keep Apple on par with the competition, which is rapidly advancing in the field of AI.
Competition Heats Up
Today, Apple is being outpaced by Google, with its Gemini (a more advanced version of Google Assistant), and Amazon, with Alexa+ (the AI-enhanced version of Alexa, currently only available in the US). Additionally, Apple has to contend with ChatGPT, which already offers a highly advanced conversational voice mode. Ironically, ChatGPT is now integrated into Apple Intelligence and also… Siri (until something better comes along, perhaps?)
Conclusion
The delay in the update of Siri’s capabilities is a significant setback for Apple, as it struggles to keep pace with the rapidly evolving landscape of AI. While an interim update is expected this year, it remains to be seen whether it will be enough to stem the tide of competition. Apple will need to accelerate its development efforts and innovation to regain its position as a leader in the field of AI.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When can we expect the updated version of Siri?
- The updated version of Siri is expected to be released before iOS 20, scheduled for the end of 2026, but may be delayed to 2027.
- What are the reasons for the delay?
- The delay is attributed to technical challenges and the departure of some employees to competing companies.
- What are the new capabilities and features of the updated Siri?
- The updated Siri will be able to write messages, plan itineraries, and manage tasks, all while taking into account each user’s preferences.