Apple Delays Personalized Siri Features Until 2026

Apple has confirmed that its long-awaited, more personalized Siri features will take longer to arrive than expected. The rollout, originally anticipated for iOS 18, is now likely to extend into 2026. This delay reflects Apple’s ongoing challenges in delivering on its Apple Intelligence promises while competing with rapid advancements from rivals like OpenAI and Amazon.

Why the Delay?

In a statement to Daring Fireball, Apple spokeswoman Jacqueline Roy explained that while Siri has already seen improvements—including better conversational abilities, type-to-Siri, and ChatGPT integration—creating a more personalized, context-aware version is proving to be a bigger challenge than anticipated.

Apple’s goal is to make Siri more aware of a user’s personal context and capable of taking actions across different apps. However, these complex upgrades are taking longer than planned, pushing the expected release past iOS 18 and potentially into iOS 19.4 in early 2026.

Apple Intelligence: A Slow Rollout

When Apple Intelligence was unveiled in June 2024, it promised to make Siri smarter, more natural, and more useful. While some features—like writing tools and voicemail transcriptions—have already launched, the core AI-powered Siri overhaul remains incomplete.

Initially, the revamped Siri was expected in iOS 18.4 or 18.5. Now, Apple engineers have more time to refine the technology, but the extended timeline has left some users disappointed.

Falling Behind the Competition?

Apple’s delay in upgrading Siri comes at a time when AI assistants are evolving rapidly. Amazon’s Alexa+ and OpenAI’s ChatGPT have introduced more advanced conversational capabilities, setting new expectations for smart assistants. While Apple’s focus on privacy and on-device processing is a key differentiator, it has also slowed down its AI development compared to cloud-based solutions from competitors.

Some users have found Siri’s recent ChatGPT integration helpful, but it doesn’t feel like a major leap forward. Instead, it serves as a temporary solution while Apple continues working on its larger AI vision.

What This Means for Users

For iPhone users eager for a smarter Siri, the message is clear: patience will be required. Apple is still committed to improving Siri, but it’s taking a cautious, methodical approach to ensure the technology meets its high standards.

In the meantime, users can take advantage of existing Siri upgrades, including improved responses and ChatGPT integration. While these features offer some enhancements, the true next-generation Siri experience is still at least a year away.