Apple Intelligence: Siri Upgrade Faces Delays

Apple’s efforts to enhance Siri with Apple Intelligence functionalities are experiencing setbacks due to engineering challenges and software bugs, as reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

The AI-powered Siri was initially anticipated to be launched with iOS 18.4, which is expected to be available in April 2024. However, ongoing performance inconsistencies may lead to the release being postponed to iOS 18.5, which could come in May or later. Another likelihood is that Apple might still unveil the features in iOS 18.4 but opt to disable them by default until the necessary improvements are completed.

Apple has already announced plans to broaden Apple Intelligence support for additional languages by April, suggesting a compressed development schedule. Traditionally, significant new iOS features are not revealed as late as May, as Apple typically diverts its attention to the next version of iOS in June after the annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

Overview of Siri’s Upgrades

Siri’s revamp is part of Apple’s extensive AI strategy aimed at staying competitive against competitors like OpenAI, Google, and Meta. The key upgrades being developed for Siri include:

• Personal Context Awareness: Siri will utilize user data to deliver more precise responses and actions.
• Enhanced App Control: There will be improved interaction capabilities across various applications.
• On-Screen Awareness: Siri will acquire the ability to interpret and respond to the content users are currently viewing on their devices.

Apple employees testing the updated Siri features have noted that the functionalities are not yet reliable, which is contributing to the delays.

Additionally, Apple is collaborating with Chinese tech giants Baidu and Alibaba to create AI functionalities that adhere to local regulations in China. The postponement of the iOS 18 rollout could have lasting implications, with potential impacts causing some anticipated features for iOS 19 to be delayed until 2026.