New Siri features may be delayed further
Development of Apple’s next-generation Siri is facing internal turmoil, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The more advanced, more personalized version of Siri that was expected to arrive in iOS 26.4 may no longer be able to stay as one, big spring update. Instead, Apple is reportedly preparing to release more software.
Originally, iOS 26.4 was positioned as the moment Siri would take a significant step forward. However, testing found performance glitches, including slow response times and occasional failures to accurately interpret user requests. As a result, some features may now move to iOS 26.5 in May, or iOS 27 later this year.
This isn’t the first time Apple has tweaked the timeline. An improved Apple Intelligence version of Siri was first seen alongside iOS 18 at WWDC 2024, with early expectations pointing to early spring 2025. That window came and went, and Apple acknowledged the need for more development time, pushing ahead with a major overhaul of the roadmap.
Internal Testing Changes to iOS 26.5
Developers have reportedly begun focusing testing efforts on iOS 26.5, which includes internal documentation detailing Siri’s new capabilities. Within this build, testers can activate preview modifiers that allow deeper personalization features. This allows Siri to refer to user data such as emails and messages to deliver more contextual responses.
One notable problem involves Siri’s AI backend. Despite the collaboration of Apple and Google to develop powerful technology in Gemini, the assistant is reported to sometimes mistake itself for ChatGPT for certain questions. This backward behavior occurs even when an updated Siri system should be able to handle the request, raising questions about the integration’s stability.
Unannounced Features Still in Play
Apart from the development of the title, Apple is also experimenting with additional capabilities. This reportedly includes image processing and built-in web search summaries. Image creation will use Apple Image Playground tools, while web searches will summarize online content directly within Siri’s responses.
These features were tested in the iOS 26.4 build and can still be seen, even if some improvements are delayed.
Fluid Siri Roadmap
Gurman describes the situation as dynamic, and Apple’s plans are still subject to change. While executives are said to be wary of further delays beyond the spring of 2026, the company seems unwilling to ship a version of Siri that doesn’t meet performance expectations.
Looking ahead, iOS 27 is expected to bring an even bigger change. Apple is reportedly developing chatbot-style capabilities designed to compete with platforms like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT. This upcoming iteration of Siri is said to include deeper integration of the operating system and a more conversational, AI-driven experience.
