CUPERTINO, California, January 14, 2026 — Apple is undertaking a major redesign of Siri to transform it into a more capable conversational AI chatbot similar to ChatGPT or Gemini, according to people familiar with the project.
The overhaul, which has been in development for over a year, aims to make Siri more proactive, context-aware, and capable of handling open-ended queries with natural, multi-turn conversations.
Current Siri limitations—such as rigid command structures, frequent failures on complex requests, and lack of memory across interactions—are targeted for improvement.
Engineers are reportedly integrating large language model technology more deeply into the assistant, enabling it to reason step-by-step, maintain context over long conversations, and generate more human-like responses.
The project includes work on on-device processing for privacy and offline capability, as well as cloud-based enhancements for complex tasks.
Apple has been cautious about rushing generative AI features. While Apple Intelligence, introduced in 2024, added writing tools, image generation, and notification summaries, Siri itself has seen only incremental upgrades. Internal frustration with Siri’s performance compared to rivals has reportedly grown, prompting the accelerated effort.
The company is also exploring partnerships to license external models for specific capabilities, though no final decisions have been made. Apple has previously used OpenAI’s technology in some Apple Intelligence features with user consent, but executives have stressed a preference for in-house development.
A potential launch window for the revamped Siri is expected in late 2026 or early 2027, possibly tied to iOS 19 or a new hardware cycle. Apple has not commented on the reports.
The redesign comes as Siri usage has declined relative to standalone chatbots, with many users turning to third-party apps for more sophisticated AI interactions. Apple aims to reverse that trend by making Siri the central intelligent assistant across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and HomePod.
Privacy remains a core focus. Apple plans to maintain its on-device-first approach for most queries, using Private Cloud Compute for heavier tasks that require server processing.
The project reflects Apple’s broader push to catch up in generative AI after initially lagging competitors. Success will depend on delivering a noticeably smarter, more reliable Siri without compromising the ecosystem’s security and privacy standards.
