Apple has reaffirmed its plans to launch a revamped version of Siri in 2026, following reports of potential delays to the update. The company confirmed to CNBC that the smarter AI assistant remains on track for release this year.
The statement comes after Bloomberg reported that Apple may postpone the initial rollout of the new Siri features, originally anticipated with iOS 26.4 this spring. According to the report, the features could instead arrive with iOS 26.5 or a later update, potentially even iOS 27.
The news sparked investor concern, with Apple experiencing its worst trading day since April 2025, erasing its year-to-date gains, CNBC reported. This highlights the market’s sensitivity to developments in Apple’s AI strategy.
Apple initially previewed the next generation of Siri at WWDC 2024, showcasing three core upgrades: onscreen awareness, personal context and deeper in-app actions. The company has since expanded development to include features like image generation and improved web search tools. The update signals growing competition in the AI sector as tech companies race to integrate more sophisticated assistants into their ecosystems.
However, testing has revealed challenges, with reports indicating that Siri sometimes struggles to process queries correctly or responds slowly. Apple may choose to release the new capabilities in stages across multiple updates throughout 2026, rather than in one major release. MacRumors details that Apple has until December 2026 to launch Siri within the timeframe it initially promised.
Despite the reported internal shifts, Apple maintains its commitment to delivering the long-awaited Siri upgrade within the 2026 timeframe, MacObserver noted. Business Standard also covered the confirmation.
