Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

New Siri Runs Into Problems, Features Could Be Pushed to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27

MacRumors said:


Apple has "run into snags" testing the more personalized, smarter version of Siri that's planned for iOS 26.4, reports Bloomberg. Because of the issues, the upcoming Siri features will be spread across several upcoming iOS releases and won't all come in the spring iOS 26.4 update.

Sad-Siri-Feature.jpg

Apple could postpone some or all of the new Siri features until iOS 26.5, an update planned for May, and iOS 27, which will launch this September.

We've been waiting on the Apple Intelligence version of Siri since iOS 18, when Apple debuted the features at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference. At the time, rumors suggested a spring 2025 launch. When spring rolled around, Apple announced that the new Siri would take longer than expected, with the functionality delayed for a year.

Since then, Apple has been targeting iOS 26.4, which the company will begin testing later this month. As Apple has been testing the updated version of Siri ahead of the release of the first iOS 26.4 beta, there have been unforeseen problems. Siri sometimes doesn't properly process queries and can take too long to respond to requests.

Apple engineers have been told to use iOS 26.5 for further internal testing, suggesting the new Siri features will be delayed until that update. Internally, iOS 26.5 includes notices describing the Siri features, as well as a "preview" toggle for turning on the Siri personalization feature that lets the personal assistant tap into user data like text messages and emails.

Employees that are testing iOS 26.5 say the update includes all of the features Apple promised, including personalization, onscreen awareness, and the ability for Siri to do more in and between apps, but not all of the features are working reliably and there are problems with accuracy.

Siri also apparently sometimes falls back on using ChatGPT for information instead of relying on the Gemini-powered technology that Apple has partnered with Google to use, even when the new version of Siri is capable of handling a user's request.

Apple also planned to include features that haven't been announced, such as options to generate images or search the web. Image generation and web search were tested as part of iOS 26.4, and it's possible they will still be included in the update, so Apple might still be able to announce some of the new Siri functionality. Image generation uses Image Playground, and web search summarizes information from the web.

Bloomberg says the situation is "fluid," though, so Apple's plans could change, and executives are reluctant to further delay the Siri functionality beyond spring 2026.

There are still major changes planned for iOS 27, with Apple aiming to add chatbot functionality to Siri to allow it to better compete with chatbots like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT. That version of Siri will have deep integration with Apple's operating systems.

Article Link: New Siri Runs Into Problems, Features Could Be Pushed to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27
Click to expand...
If this Siri isn’t ready on 26.4 I’ll be switching to android.

I stupidly bought a 16P based on the promised features and have been absolutely floored at the incompetence here.

Pathetic for a $4T company.
 
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: Apple$, BugeyeSTI, Stormshadow and 10 others
MacRumors said:


Apple has "run into snags" testing the more personalized, smarter version of Siri that's planned for iOS 26.4, reports Bloomberg. Because of the issues, the upcoming Siri features will be spread across several upcoming iOS releases and won't all come in the spring iOS 26.4 update.

Sad-Siri-Feature.jpg

Apple could postpone some or all of the new Siri features until iOS 26.5, an update planned for May, and iOS 27, which will launch this September.

We've been waiting on the Apple Intelligence version of Siri since iOS 18, when Apple debuted the features at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference. At the time, rumors suggested a spring 2025 launch. When spring rolled around, Apple announced that the new Siri would take longer than expected, with the functionality delayed for a year.

Since then, Apple has been targeting iOS 26.4, which the company will begin testing later this month. As Apple has been testing the updated version of Siri ahead of the release of the first iOS 26.4 beta, there have been unforeseen problems. Siri sometimes doesn't properly process queries and can take too long to respond to requests.

Apple engineers have been told to use iOS 26.5 for further internal testing, suggesting the new Siri features will be delayed until that update. Internally, iOS 26.5 includes notices describing the Siri features, as well as a "preview" toggle for turning on the Siri personalization feature that lets the personal assistant tap into user data like text messages and emails.

Employees that are testing iOS 26.5 say the update includes all of the features Apple promised, including personalization, onscreen awareness, and the ability for Siri to do more in and between apps, but not all of the features are working reliably and there are problems with accuracy.

Siri also apparently sometimes falls back on using ChatGPT for information instead of relying on the Gemini-powered technology that Apple has partnered with Google to use, even when the new version of Siri is capable of handling a user's request.

Apple also planned to include features that haven't been announced, such as options to generate images or search the web. Image generation and web search were tested as part of iOS 26.4, and it's possible they will still be included in the update, so Apple might still be able to announce some of the new Siri functionality. Image generation uses Image Playground, and web search summarizes information from the web.

Bloomberg says the situation is "fluid," though, so Apple's plans could change, and executives are reluctant to further delay the Siri functionality beyond spring 2026.

There are still major changes planned for iOS 27, with Apple aiming to add chatbot functionality to Siri to allow it to better compete with chatbots like Gemini, Claude, and ChatGPT. That version of Siri will have deep integration with Apple's operating systems.

Article Link: New Siri Runs Into Problems, Features Could Be Pushed to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27
Click to expand...
We cannot be fr
 
This was so predictable. People just relax. It will come out with iOS 27.

Why should they even introduce new features in a 26.X update when they could focus the hype for their upcoming flagship update and have more time to polish?

This seems like pure media spin to get reactions. I don't believe Gurman is being truthful here.
 
  • Like
  • Disagree
Reactions: Farragutful, Stormshadow, Hillstones and 2 others
Mark “Bad News Flippity Floppity” Gurman knew about this and sat on this news for weeks only for then to push it out last minute to gain more money for his paid walled articles! Sad!
 
  • Like
Reactions: SF7 and hawwkk55
Geez should I skip another generation of iPhone. Who knows what won’t be supported next year on it.
 
This is unfortunate. At least they are being transparent about it. I would rather they take their time and get things right rather than releasing an unfinished software that many will complain about.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Hillstones
Kidseeghost said:
This is embarrassing now. At this point let us choose our own AI/assistant like the browser.
Click to expand...
I would agree, but there's no way that they would allow a third party assistant to plug that deeply into your phone & personal data. So instead, we wait. For now, I use Gemini for queries and Siri to do things like set reminders, control Homekit, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back