Apple’s WWDC 25: Still No AI-Powered Siri Upgrade
▼ Summary
– Apple announced updates like “Liquid Glass” and a rebranded naming convention at WWDC 25 but delayed the AI-powered Siri update, citing quality concerns.
– The personalized Siri, first introduced at WWDC 24, was expected to understand personal context and enable cross-app actions but faced functionality issues.
– Apple delayed the Siri launch to 2026, reassigning leadership from John Giannandrea to Mike Rockwell, signaling internal challenges and AI lag behind rivals.
– To bridge the AI gap, Apple partnered with OpenAI, allowing Siri to redirect queries to ChatGPT and integrating ChatGPT into Image Playground.
– Apple highlighted other AI advancements at WWDC, including on-device AI models, live translation, Genmoji upgrades, and an AI-powered Shortcuts app.
Apple’s WWDC 25 showcased major software updates but left one glaring omission, the long-awaited AI-powered Siri upgrade. Despite high expectations, the company offered little more than a vague promise of future improvements, signaling another delay for its struggling virtual assistant.
During the keynote, Craig Federighi, Apple’s SVP of Software Engineering, briefly addressed Siri’s stalled progress, stating the team needed more time to meet the company’s “high-quality bar.” His mention of a “coming year” timeline suggests the overhaul won’t arrive until 2026 at the earliest—a sluggish pace in an industry where AI advancements now move at breakneck speed.
Originally unveiled at WWDC 24, the revamped Siri was pitched as a game-changer, capable of understanding personal context like relationships, routines, and communications. Apple promised deeper app integration, allowing users to execute complex tasks seamlessly. Yet internal testing reportedly revealed glaring inconsistencies, with the assistant functioning correctly only two-thirds of the time.
The delay highlights Apple’s struggles to keep pace with rivals like OpenAI and Google. Earlier this year, the company reassigned key personnel, shifting John Giannandrea, its AI chief, away from Siri and handing leadership to Mike Rockwell, known for his work on Vision Pro. This shakeup underscored deeper technical challenges, prompting Apple to lean on OpenAI’s ChatGPT as a stopgap for unanswered Siri queries.
While Siri languishes, Apple is pushing ahead with other AI initiatives. The upcoming iOS 26 will integrate ChatGPT into its Image Playground tool, alongside new features like live translation, Genmoji upgrades, and an AI-powered Workout Buddy for Apple Watch. Developers also gained access to on-device foundation models, signaling Apple’s broader ambitions, even as its flagship assistant falls further behind.
For now, users hoping for a smarter Siri will need patience. The delay raises questions about Apple’s ability to compete in the AI race, leaving investors and consumers wondering if the company can ever close the gap.
(Source: TechCrunch)
