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Apple showed off many new Siri features at the launch of iOS 18, but some of them haven't made it to devices yet. Apple cited this as a result of complexity and a desire to ensure quality. Initially, it was said the new features would arrive sometime next year. But now there's new information: According to a report in the New York Times, they'll arrive as early as fall 2025.
If you use Siri, you probably know its limitations. While it's handy for timers, news, or weather, it often doesn't feel truly intelligent. That's exactly what Apple wants to change with its next major update. The redesigned version is designed to not only better understand your meaning, but also respond contextually, recognize content on your screen, and collaborate more closely with apps. And best of all, you probably won't have to wait until 2026 after all. Apple plans to release the delayed Siri features this year, according to internal company sources told The New York Times.
The most important Siri features coming this fall
Personalized context
The new Siri can use information from your emails, messages, photos, files, and other content to help you in a targeted manner. This means it understands context from your usage and can perform tasks or repeat things for you based on that. For example, you can say:
- Show me the files Sam sent me last week
- Find the email where Sam mentioned ice hockey
- Where is the recipe Sam sent me
- What is my passport number
Siri becomes more personal because it knows your context better – without you having to explain everything again every time.
Onscreen awareness
Siri recognizes what's on your screen and can work with it directly. For example, if you receive a message with an address, you can ask Siri to add it to your contact list. Or if you're looking at a photo, you can say, "Send this to Paul." So the voice assistant responds not only to what you say, but also to what you're doing.
Cross-app features
Another step toward true assistance: Siri is designed to perform tasks that involve multiple apps simultaneously. Until now, such processes could only be performed manually or were complicated to implement using shortcuts. Here are a few examples:
- Edit a photo and send it directly
- Start directions home and inform Sam of the estimated time of arrival
- Send a draft email to Sam
- Move files between apps
These features were showcased at WWDC 2024 and are now scheduled to be rolled out with an update in the fall.
What Siri can already do – and what’s still to come
A few things are already available there:
- Write to Siri: You can also write to Siri, not just speak
- New user interface: more modern, clearer, simpler
- ChatGPT integration: Siri uses GPT models for complex queries
- Better language understanding: You no longer have to formulate commands precisely, Siri also understands casual language
What went wrong so far
Apple has been sued at least three times in California for failing to deliver promised Siri features on time. This has increased the pressure on the company to show concrete progress. The new information from the NYT report is likely a sign that Apple is keen to respond – and will indeed release the new Siri features this fall as planned.
Smarter, faster, more helpful: New Siri coming in autumn
Siri is getting a major update with iOS 18, which is designed to make her significantly more powerful and useful. The three key innovations—personal context, screen understanding, and deeper app integration—could make the assistant a true everyday helper. And instead of waiting until 2026, as previously feared, it now looks like everything will launch this fall. (Image: Apple)
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