Apple’s long-promised AI overhaul for Siri may be slipping further into the future.
According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, some of the most anticipated Siri upgrades expected in upcoming iOS 26 updates could now be pushed back to iOS 26.5 or even iOS 27.
The revamped Siri was first announced in June 2024, with Apple initially suggesting it would arrive as part of iOS 18. Now, nearly two years later, the full experience still hasn’t materialised.
Gurman, citing people familiar with the matter, says features such as voice-based control of in-app actions and Siri’s expanded ability to tap into personal data may not arrive as soon as hoped. That includes more contextual requests. For example, users might ask Siri to find an old message containing a shared podcast link and play it instantly. Moreover, those capabilities are reportedly among the features most at risk of being delayed.
Earlier expectations suggested parts of the AI refresh would roll out with iOS 26.4. Instead, some upgrades could shift to iOS 26.5, expected around May. Additionally, others may not appear until iOS 27 lands in September.
If accurate, that would mean core elements of Siri’s AI redesign arrive roughly two years after they were first unveiled. For users who upgraded recent iPhones expecting major Siri improvements, it’s a longer wait than anticipated.
The delay also comes at a time when AI-powered assistants on Android have accelerated rapidly. Google’s Gemini already offers deeper contextual understanding and task execution across apps. As a result, this puts added pressure on Apple to modernise Siri in a meaningful way.
Apple hasn’t publicly commented on the reported timeline changes, and there’s still a chance features could land sooner. But until the company provides clarity, Siri’s ambitious AI reboot remains a work in progress – and one that’s taking longer than many expected.
