Gemini-Powered Siri Features Delayed
Zac Hall (Hacker News, MacRumors, AppleInsider, Slashdot):
Despite inking a deal with Google to use Gemini AI as the brains behind upgraded Siri, Apple is reportedly facing internal challenges in getting the final product ready for prime time. The reported delays could stretch into iOS 27 this fall. Apple first announced a more capable version of Siri in 2024; that update hasn’t shipped yet.
Mark Gurman, reporting for Bloomberg:
After planning to include the new capabilities in iOS 26.4 — an operating system update slated for March — Apple is now working to spread them out over future versions, according to people familiar with the matter. That would mean possibly postponing at least some features until at least iOS 26.5, due in May, and iOS 27, which comes out in September.
Gurman notes that while Apple hasn’t promised a ship date more specific than this year, the company has been eyeing iOS 26.4 around March as the release target.
Oh, you have heard this before? A half-dozen times just in the past few years?
[…]
As I see it, Apple has two problems. The first one is the bigger one: they need to fix Siri. But the second one is tangentially related to that quest: they need to plug the leak of detailed information about the Siri roadmap and timeline.
If these features are going to drop in iOS 26.4, they should be in pretty good shape right now internally. If they’re in bad shape right now in internal builds, it’s really hard to see how they could drop in iOS 26.4. And once you start talking about iOS 26.5 (let alone 26.6), we’d be getting really close to WWDC, where Apple’s messaging will turn to the version 27 OSes.
I’ve seen a few “how can it be delayed if it was never publicly announced?” posts on socials, and I genuinely wonder about these folks. Set aside these features were advertised as coming in 2024, and we can still mention that internal products are planned and delayed 👏🏻 all 👏🏻the 👏🏻 time 👏🏻 at companies, regardless of if they gave customers timelines.
Apple is still planning to launch the smarter, more capable version of Siri in 2026, the company told CNBC today.
OpenAI ships major new features multiple times a month. I don’t see how Apple can be competitive in AI unless they rethink how they work and release software.
Previously:
- Apple Picks Gemini
- Why Apple Still Hasn’t Cracked AI
- How Apple Fumbled Siri’s AI Makeover
- Leaked Apple Siri Meeting
- Rotten
- Apple Delays “More Personalized Siri” Apple Intelligence Features
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I know this rumor comes around every year, but if there was ever a time for a Snow Leopard release this would be it.
The reason Snow Leopard was so good was because regular Leopard was fantastic. Everyone wants a Snow Leopard update but that isn’t enough anymore.
