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For years, Apple has faced the problem that Siri doesn't perform as well as modern AI assistants. While competitors like Google, OpenAI, and Amazon continuously develop their systems, Siri long fell short of expectations. Apple's announcements often seemed too vague, and timelines were repeatedly postponed. Now, however, there are two new signs that at least suggest something is happening—and that Apple is indeed making progress with the new Siri.
Apple has repeatedly cast doubt on its ability to deliver a truly intelligent version of Siri in recent months. Backtracking on previous announcements and a lack of concrete information made it difficult to believe Apple could keep its promises. Even now, there's no reason to be overly optimistic, but two developments in recent days have offered a glimmer of hope for the first time in a long while.
Tim Cook speaks out – cautiously, but clearly
The first encouraging sign came directly from CEO Tim Cook. During the last earnings press conference, Cook spoke about Apple making "good progress" in developing a more personalized Siri and expecting to launch it next year.
While this statement was brief and vague, it carries weight. Apple has often gotten itself into trouble in recent years by making premature promises. The fact that Cook is even expressing an expectation for a release next year shows that the company now has more confidence in the progress of development.
It was noticeable that Siri wasn't mentioned at all during the iPhone 17 keynote. Apple clearly wanted to avoid making promises it couldn't keep. The company had made similar announcements with the iPhone 16, only to retract them later. The fact that Cook is now willing to offer a prediction – albeit a cautious one – suggests that progress has been made internally and that Apple believes it can deliver a significantly improved Siri by 2026.
New technical foundation thanks to Google Gemini
The second indication is considerably more concrete and comes from a report by Mark Gurman. According to his information, a large part of the new Siri will be based on Google's Gemini models. This means that Apple apparently plans to use a custom-designed Gemini model running on its own private cloud compute servers. In this way, Apple intends to provide the new Siri features without relying on external systems or sharing user data outside of Apple's own systems.
Apple has announced that the new Siri will be able to respond in a much more personalized way. For example, it should be able to answer questions like, "Find Mom's book recommendation," by accessing information stored locally on the device and combining it with AI logic.
The crucial difference lies in the fact that Apple is apparently no longer trying to catch up with the major AI models on its own. Instead, the company is focusing on collaborating with existing technologies. This approach seems more realistic, as it allows Apple to rely on proven models instead of having to keep pace with the rapid advancements of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Llama, or DeepSeek.
This change in strategy could make all the difference. If Siri is based on a stable, powerful AI foundation like Gemini, it's much more credible that Apple can release a new version within the next year that actually represents a significant improvement.
The challenge of integration
Despite all the positive signs, implementation remains a huge project. Siri is deeply integrated into the entire Apple ecosystem – on iPhones, iPads, Macs, HomePods, in CarPlay, and likely soon even more so into the company's Vision products. The challenge lies in ensuring that the new, AI-powered Siri functions reliably across all these areas without compromising Apple's privacy promises.
Data privacy is a crucial factor here. Apple has always positioned itself as a company that protects user data and relies on local processing. Integrating an external AI like Google Gemini therefore requires a system that is both high-performing and data-secure. This is precisely what the Private Cloud Compute Servers are designed to provide, processing requests without any uncontrolled sharing of personal information.
Nevertheless, one thing is clear: even if the new approach seems more realistic, Apple faces a complex task. Comparison with the competition will be tough. By 2026, the capabilities of other AI systems will have developed significantly further. If Siri is to be released by then, it will have to be measured against the standards set by chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini – not by today's.
Apple is focusing on cooperation rather than going it alone with Siri
Apple appears to have changed direction with Siri. After years of vague promises and disappointments, there are now, for the first time, concrete signs that work on the new Siri is actually at an advanced stage.
Tim Cook's cautious statement and the information about the collaboration with Google Gemini suggest that Apple is pursuing a more pragmatic strategy. Instead of developing its own model from scratch, the company is using existing, proven technology and integrating it into its own ecosystem.
Skepticism remains warranted, as integration will be complex and the competition is fierce. However, for the first time in a long while, there is reason for cautious optimism that Apple could actually take Siri to a new level – and that the new version in 2026 will finally deliver what has been promised for years. The best products for you: Our Amazon storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including those for HomeKit. (Photo by Unsplash / Igor Omilaev)
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