Apple has announced a delay in the rollout of its anticipated AI enhancements for Siri, originally scheduled for the iOS 18.4 update in April. The company now expects to release these features sometime in the "coming year," potentially as late as 2026.
Reasons for the Delay
The postponement stems from significant software bugs discovered during internal testing. Top executives, including software chief Craig Federighi, determined that the features "didn't work properly—or as advertised." Some members of Apple's AI division suggest that the current work may need to be scrapped and rebuilt from scratch.
Implications for Apple's AI Strategy
This delay represents a setback for Apple's AI ambitions, especially as competitors like Google and Amazon continue to advance their AI capabilities. The company had been advertising these now-postponed features in television commercials for nearly six months, prominently marketing the iPhone 16 as "built from the ground up for Apple Intelligence."
In response to the delay, Apple has removed advertisements promoting the upcoming Siri features, reflecting the company's acknowledgment of the setback.
As Apple works to resolve these issues, users will need to wait longer for the enhanced Siri experience initially promised for this year.