Apple postpones AI-powered Siri upgrade following testing issues

Apple’s long-awaited overhaul of Siri has hit further testing issues, potentially delaying several key features, Bloomberg reports.

Originally expected to arrive with iOS 26.4 in March, the new capabilities are now being split across future releases, according to sources familiar with the matter. Some features may slip to iOS 26.5 in May, while others could be pushed as far back as iOS 27 in September.

The delays extend a development timeline that has already stretched over two years. Apple first previewed the revamped Siri in June 2024, promising deeper access to personal data and more precise app control by early 2025. In spring 2025, the company postponed the launch to 2026, targeting iOS 26.4 as an internal deadline.

Recent testing uncovered fresh issues. Siri reportedly struggles with accuracy, can lag in responding, and has difficulty processing complex or fast-spoken requests. In some cases, the assistant defaults to ChatGPT integration rather than relying on Apple’s own AI systems.

Internal builds of iOS 26.5 include two unannounced features: a web search tool similar to Perplexity or Gemini, and image generation powered by Image Playground. Looking further ahead, Apple is developing a fully redesigned Siri for iOS 27 under the codename “Campo,” described as a chatbot-style system that runs on servers powered by Google’s Gemini model.

CEO Tim Cook has also hinted at broader infrastructure changes, including custom data center chips under the Baltra project to support cloud-based AI processing.