Apple’s digital assistant, Siri, is poised for a significant update that will enable it to execute complex tasks through natural language commands. Although initial expectations indicated that these enhancements would debut with iOS 18.4, recent reports suggest that Apple’s engineering teams are running behind schedule. The ongoing challenges in developing Apple Intelligence features indicate that users might have to wait until next year for the anticipated improvements.
Delays in Siri’s Advanced Functionalities Until iOS 18.5
In his latest Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman highlighted that several major AI features—including significant Siri upgrades—are scheduled for a postponement until iOS 19. The complexity of generative AI technology appears to be one of the key reasons behind this delay, prompting Apple to also push back some features initially slated for iOS 18 by approximately a month.
Initially expected to roll out with iOS 18.4, the redesigned Siri experience will now be included in the upcoming iOS 18.5 update.
The follow-up release, iOS 18.5, is where the good stuff is supposed to wind up. It has the AI-infused Siri that the company showed off last June, as well as support for Apple Intelligence in China.
Apple’s engineering teams have been working on the iOS 18.5 update since February, with the first beta version expected to be released in April and the final iteration anticipated in May. Currently, Siri’s capabilities lag behind competitors like Google Gemini and ChatGPT in terms of information processing and relevance, a gap that Apple aims to close with the forthcoming upgrades. This next major update promises to revolutionize how Siri interacts with users across iPhones and other compatible devices, enhancing the experience with advanced Apple Intelligence integration.
The next version of Siri will be a test of whether Apple can mount a comeback. The software is likely to be released in May, a full 11 months after it was introduced.
As of now, it remains uncertain if any major Siri features will be introduced in the iOS 18.4 beta versions or if they will be reserved for the iOS 18.5 launch. We will continue to monitor developments closely, so stay tuned for the latest updates.
Leave a Reply ▼