Apple Tests ChatGPT-Style Siri With New LLM App
▼ Summary
– Apple created an internal ChatGPT-like app for engineers to test a major Siri overhaul, but it will not be released to the public.
– The app is testing new Siri capabilities like enhanced contextual awareness, deeper app integration, and the ability to remember past conversations.
– Apple delayed its initial “Apple Intelligence” Siri plan and is now building a second-generation architecture using advanced large language models.
– The new LLM-powered Siri, expected in early 2026, will handle continuous conversations and complex tasks with human-like responses.
– Apple may partner with a third-party AI company like Anthropic, OpenAI, or Google to power the new Siri instead of using only in-house models.
In a significant move to enhance its voice assistant, Apple has developed a specialized ChatGPT-style application for internal testing, according to a recent report. This tool is designed exclusively for Apple engineers to evaluate a fundamentally redesigned Siri, though the company has no plans to release this specific app to consumers. The development signals a major push to modernize Siri’s capabilities using advanced large language model technology.
The application serves as a testing ground for a suite of planned Siri upgrades. Engineers are using it to evaluate features like improved contextual awareness, the ability to execute more complex actions within and across different applications, and deeper integration with a user’s personal information. The interface reportedly resembles popular chatbot apps, organizing interactions into distinct conversations on various topics. A key functionality being tested is the app’s capacity to remember past discussions and reference them within extended dialogues.
This internal initiative is part of a broader strategy that began with iOS 18. Apple initially aimed to introduce a smarter “Apple Intelligence” Siri with that update but postponed the launch after the assistant’s performance fell short of the company’s high standards. This delay prompted a strategic shift; instead of incremental improvements, Apple decided to completely rebuild Siri with a new, second-generation architecture to accelerate its transition to LLM-based technology.
The forthcoming version of Siri will leverage sophisticated large language models, placing it in direct competition with AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. This next-generation Siri is expected to conduct fluid, continuous conversations, deliver responses that feel more natural and human-like, and handle significantly more complicated multi-step tasks for users.
Apple is currently targeting an early 2026 release for this LLM-powered Siri, potentially as part of an iOS 26.4 update around March. This timeline means the upgraded assistant will arrive approximately a full year later than Apple’s original goal. Alongside these functional upgrades, the company is also planning a visual refresh for Siri by the end of next year, which may involve a more anthropomorphic design reminiscent of the Mac’s Finder icon.
To power this ambitious overhaul, Apple is exploring partnerships with leading AI firms. The company has engaged in discussions with Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google, indicating that it may license technology from a third-party provider rather than relying solely on its own in-house AI models for the revamped Siri.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
