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Apple has big ambitions in the field of artificial intelligence. Although the company isn't yet considered a pioneer in AI development, it has long-term plans that go far beyond what is currently being publicly communicated. While the company's leadership has been reluctant to make official statements, new reports provide concrete clues as to how Apple Intelligence will be further developed in the coming years.
Apple's AI offensive is getting off to a slower start than other major tech companies. Many had already expected more from Siri improvements and other AI features in iOS 18. But Apple is apparently pursuing a more cautious strategy and is working behind the scenes on several projects intended to enable deeper integration of AI into the Apple ecosystem. This includes not only a redesigned Siri, but also a possible chatbot called Knowledge and a new, always-on assistant – the so-called Siri Copilot.
Context-aware Siri: The revised voice assistant system will arrive in 2026 at the earliest
Apple is planning a comprehensively updated version of Siri. It will be more context-aware, meaning it will be able to respond more effectively to the current user context. This is based on a new system with so-called app intents, which enables access to user data within apps. This allows Siri to not only respond to questions but also proactively offer functions or provide information that are relevant to the current situation. This new version of Siri was originally planned to be introduced with iOS 18, but Apple has postponed the release. According to a recent report , early 2026 is now cited as a realistic launch window. By this time, Siri will also be fully based on a Large Language Model (LLM). This would enable it to conduct more complex dialogues and understand the user significantly better. One reason for the delay is apparently that many components of the current Siri infrastructure are outdated and will have to be bypassed or replaced for the new system.
Knowledge Chatbot: A new tool for accessing online knowledge
Another project being discussed internally is an AI-powered chatbot called Knowledge. This is intended to provide access to information from the internet and could thus perform functions currently familiar from classic web searches. Whether this chatbot will be linked to Siri or offered independently as a separate app is still unclear. However, the existence of the Knowledge project is explicitly mentioned in the report. It is reportedly led by Robby Walker, the former Siri boss. In the past, there have been indications of internal tests with systems called Ajax and Ask, some of which were referred to as "AppleGPT." However, there are apparently different opinions internally regarding the direction of Apple Intelligence. Greg Joswiak, Apple's Senior Vice President of Marketing, publicly stated that Apple is not planning a chatbot app. Rather, Apple Intelligence is intended to be a system that operates in the background without users having to open a special application.
Siri Copilot: An assistant that works permanently in the background
In addition to Siri and the Knowledge chatbot, there is a third project: the so-called Siri Copilot. This is a further development of the voice assistant that goes beyond traditional functions. The goal is to create a permanently active companion that works proactively and is more dialogue-oriented. What exactly this copilot will look like is not yet known. The report compares the concept to the Workout Buddy, which was introduced in watchOS 26. This works without direct input and reacts automatically to certain user needs. The copilot could therefore complete tasks, adjust notifications, or provide information in the background – without you having to explicitly activate it. Apple would not be the first company to work on such a system. Previous projects such as the Rabbit R1 had similar goals but failed due to implementation or market acceptance. The crucial difference: With the iPhone, Apple has an established platform that makes it easier to get started with such functions.
Apple relies on invisible intelligence in the background
Apple is currently pursuing three main projects in the field of artificial intelligence: a contextual and LLM-based Siri, a potential knowledge chatbot, and an intelligent copilot. Although there have been delays in the past and specific features have been repeatedly postponed, the current plans demonstrate that Apple is thinking long-term. Instead of pursuing quick wins, the company is focusing on deeply integrated solutions that operate as seamlessly as possible in the background. The coming years—especially 2026—are likely to be crucial for Apple's ability to assert itself in this space. Much is still under development, but the direction is clear: Apple wants to use AI in a way that is practical, invisible, and permanently available to users. (Image: Shutterstock / emka74)
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