Apple’s long-anticipated AI-powered Siri upgrade was initially expected to launch with iOS 18.4 in April, but new reports suggested delays beyond that timeframe. Today, Apple has officially acknowledged the situation, confirming that the revamped version is still a long way off due to unforeseen development challenges.
Apple’s Official Statement on the Siri AI Delay
In a statement to Daring Fireball’s John Gruber, Apple spokeswoman Jacqueline Roy explained that while Siri has received notable improvements over the past six months, integrating advanced AI capabilities has proven to be more complex than anticipated.
Here’s the full statement from Apple:
Siri helps our users find what they need and get things done quickly, and in just the past six months, we’ve made Siri more conversational, introduced new features like type to Siri and product knowledge, and added an integration with ChatGPT. We’ve also been working on a more personalized Siri, giving it more awareness of your personal context, as well as the ability to take action for you within and across your apps. It’s going to take us longer than we thought to deliver on these features and we anticipate rolling them out in the coming year.
The key takeaway? The AI-powered update is no longer expected in the near future. Instead of the usual “coming weeks” or “coming months” phrasing often used in Silicon Valley, Apple is now saying it will arrive “in the coming year”—suggesting a much more significant delay than expected.
For users hoping for a more personalized version of the virtual assistant, one that understands personal context and can take actions inside apps, this means a longer wait before experiencing these AI-driven improvements.
What’s Still Coming in iOS 18.4?
While the virtual assistant’s AI evolution is postponed, iOS 18.4 is still on track for an April release, bringing some noteworthy updates:
- Apple Intelligence Expansion – Apple’s current AI features will finally roll out in the EU.
- More Language Support – Expect Siri’s features to become available in additional languages.
Pokdepinion: Apple’s delay in launching the AI-powered transformation highlights the complexity of making virtual assistants truly intelligent and personalized. While this is undoubtedly frustrating for users eagerly awaiting the update, Apple is prioritizing getting it right rather than rushing it out.For now, iOS 18.4 will bring incremental improvements, but the biggest Siri upgrade in years is still on the horizon—just not anytime soon.
