Apple’s AI-Powered Siri Overhaul Could Be Delayed Until 2027

Apple’s plan to modernize Siri with generative AI is facing setbacks, and the “true modernized, conversational version” of Siri might not be ready until 2027 with iOS 20, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Apple originally announced Apple Intelligence in 2024, aiming to enhance Siri with AI-driven capabilities. However, nearly a year later, these promised updates have yet to materialize. The first major Siri upgrade, which integrates Apple Intelligence, is now expected to launch in May 2025 with iOS 18.5—11 months after its original WWDC 2024 announcement.

A Hybrid Siri Before a Full Overhaul

While a new version of Siri will debut in iOS 18.5, Gurman reports that this version will function as a hybrid system with “two brains”:

• One dedicated to legacy commands, such as setting timers and making calls.

• The other processing AI-powered requests using Apple Intelligence.

This interim version will eventually be replaced by "LLM Siri," a fully AI-powered assistant set to be unveiled in June at WWDC 2025 and launched in spring 2026 with iOS 19. However, Gurman warns that even this upgrade won’t include the full conversational capabilities Apple originally planned.

The Bigger Vision Delayed Until 2027

Apple initially planned for iOS 19 Siri to feature a more conversational, AI-driven experience, but due to developmental obstacles, these capabilities have been postponed. Internal sources now believe that a truly modern, fully AI-integrated Siri won’t be available to consumers until iOS 20 in 2027 at the earliest.

This delay risks putting Apple further behind competitors like Google, OpenAI, and Microsoft, who continue advancing their conversational AI assistants

What This Means

Apple’s struggles with Siri’s AI overhaul highlight the challenges of integrating generative AI into an existing ecosystem. While incremental updates will roll out over the next two years, the long wait for a fully AI-driven Siri raises concerns about Apple’s ability to keep pace with rivals in the fast-moving AI space.

For consumers, this means Siri will improve in stages, but a truly seamless, next-generation AI assistant may still be years away.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.