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Apple is working on one of its most ambitious projects in recent years: a completely new Siri powered by artificial intelligence, scheduled to launch with iOS 26.4. The company appears optimistic outwardly, but internally, things are different. Initial testers within Apple are reporting significant performance issues. This is causing uncertainty—especially given the competition and the high expectations Apple itself has stoked.
The redesigned Siri was supposed to be a milestone: smarter, more context-aware, and capable of acting independently within apps. Apple announced grand plans but ultimately postponed the launch. Now, the new version, iOS 26.4, is scheduled for release in early 2026—a year later than originally planned. But despite being given more time, not everything is going smoothly. According to a recent Bloomberg report , there are internal "concerns" about the performance of the current test version.
Siri performance issues in iOS 26.4
Some Apple employees directly involved in the development of the new Siri are dissatisfied with the current state. Despite months of work, the early version of the voice assistant isn't making a convincing impression. Mark Gurman's "Power On" newsletter reports that the new Siri's performance in internal tests is causing concern. Based on the current state of development, the progress seems sobering—especially considering what Apple originally announced.
What Siri should actually be able to do
The plan was for a significantly more powerful Siri with deep personal context, screen understanding, and the ability to perform tasks directly within apps. The digital assistant would not only execute commands but also act proactively—almost like an intelligent companion that understands the user's needs and acts proactively. This new version was announced at WWDC24 and was originally supposed to be introduced during iOS 18, but ultimately never materialized. Apple postponed the launch because, according to Apple, the software was not yet ready for market.
Apple Intelligence and Reality
With the introduction of "Apple Intelligence," Apple officially entered the AI competition. Many features, such as Genmoji, Clean Up in Photos, and the integration of ChatGPT into Siri, were gradually made available. But the centerpiece, the all-new Siri, remained unreleased. In an interview following WWDC25, software chief Craig Federighi confirmed that the launch would not take place until 2026—specifically with iOS 26.4.
Two Siri models in internal competition
Behind the scenes, Apple relies on two different teams with different approaches. One is working on a purely on-device AI model that will run entirely on the iPhone. The other team is relying on Google Gemini, operated via Private Cloud Compute – a privacy-preserving solution where data leaves the device but is processed with strong security.
Which model will ultimately be used is still open. However, current test versions of Siri in iOS 26.4 seem to rely on Apple's own models – and this is precisely where internal difficulties arise. This suggests that the company is not yet at the point it would like to be.
Uncertainty and staff turnover
In addition to the technical challenges, there are also organizational problems. There are already rumors that more leading figures from Apple's AI department could leave – especially if the Siri relaunch this spring doesn't live up to expectations. Apple has already had difficulty retaining highly qualified AI talent and attracting new ones. Should the new version of Siri fail, the problem is likely to worsen.
How things could continue
The release of iOS 26.4 is still about six months away. Technically speaking, Apple still has time to fix the performance issues and stabilize the system. It's normal that a lot can change during this phase. Nevertheless, the latest report reveals internal doubts about whether Siri, in its current state, meets the standards it has set for itself—and whether the new AI strategy will be sustainable in the long term.
Apple in AI stress test
The new Siri was supposed to be Apple's AI breakthrough. But at the moment, the project seems less like a leap forward than a risky balancing act. Internal concerns, technological uncertainties, and personnel tensions raise the question of whether Apple can deliver on time. The coming months will be crucial – for Siri, for Apple Intelligence, and for Apple's position in the global AI competition. (Image: Apple)
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