Apple has declared that its highly anticipated, AI-fueled overhaul of Siri—unveiled at WWDC 2024—will arrive now in spring 2026 as a feature of iOS 26.4. the feature, initially set to deploy with the iPhone 16 in autumn 2025, was pushed back due to quality concerns. Regarding reliability issues, senior Apple executives vowed to wait instead of rushing, in a market that's rapidly changing in terms of AI capabilities.
Why the Delay? Apple's Quality-First Stance SVP Craig Federighi admitted at WWDC 2025 that Siri redesign "didn't converge … quality-wise" and didn't meet Apple's high standards. Execs Greg Joswiak and Federighi emphasized that the delay was necessary to avoid disappointing users with choky performance. Apple is taking a more cautionary route than rivals hurrying to ship.
Revised Timeline: Spring 2026 Ship Date Planned Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that internally, Apple’s target is spring 2026, aiming to include Siri’s AI enhancements in iOS 26.4, typically released in March or April. During post‑WWDC interviews, Apple’s marketing lead confirmed that deployment is expected “next year”, clarifying ambiguity from earlier remarks .
What’s in the Update? Smarter, Context-Aware Siri The long-overdue update of Siri promises more intense AI integration—about personal context, on-screen content, and performing tasks in apps. The update is Apple's response to its broader Apple Intelligence initiative, providing developers with access to foundation models while ensuring privacy for users. Despite being late, Apple still rolls out other AI features like real-time translation and Genmoji in iOS 26.
Investor & Market Reactions Apple’s stock dropped around 2.5%—wiping out about $75 billion in market capitalization—shortly after the WWDC keynote when Federighi confirmed Siri’s delay. Analysts worry Apple may lose momentum to AI-first rivals such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Still, some investors believe Apple’s cautious, privacy-driven strategy may yield long-term durability.