Some Apple AI workers say conversational Siri will come in 2027 “at best,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Apple’s vision of an advanced, conversational Siri might take longer to materialize than many had hoped. While Apple Intelligence promised a more natural, intuitive voice assistant, insiders now suggest we might not see a truly modernized Siri until iOS 20 in 2027 at the earliest, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter.
A Glimpse at the Roadmap: iOS 18.5 and the LLM-Powered Siri
Apple is set to introduce a large language model (LLM)-powered Siri upgrade in iOS 18.5, a move that signals progress but falls short of a full transformation. Gurman reports that this new iteration will run as a separate system alongside the old Siri, which could lead to a disjointed experience. The old architecture’s limitations — like struggling with complex or contextual commands — are expected to persist, as the integration between the two systems remains incomplete.
Initially, Apple aimed to unveil a fully merged Siri architecture with iOS 19.4, capable of handling both straightforward tasks like setting reminders and more sophisticated, context-aware actions across apps. However, development has lagged behind schedule, and this next-level Siri won’t be making an appearance at WWDC in June, where Apple traditionally showcases its latest innovations.
The Challenges of Rebuilding Siri from the Ground Up
Apple isn’t alone in facing hurdles with AI-powered assistants. Amazon has grappled with similar issues while revamping Alexa. Amazon’s head of Devices and Services, Panos Panay, shared that the new Alexa Plus required a complete re-architecture to unify the old system with the new capabilities. Early access for the upgraded Alexa is coming, but only to select devices — a cautious rollout that hints at the complexity of such an overhaul.
Apple’s challenge, however, appears even steeper. According to Gurman, Apple’s AI models are already “reaching their limits,” and the company has struggled to acquire the necessary hardware for training and improving those models. On top of that, internal issues have reportedly slowed progress: ineffective leadership, an exodus of AI talent to competing tech giants, and mounting pressure as those rivals continue to surge ahead.
Why Siri’s Evolution Matters More Than Ever
The stakes are high for Apple. Siri was once a trailblazer, setting the stage for virtual assistants back in 2011. But in recent years, it’s fallen behind the likes of Google Assistant and even Amazon Alexa in terms of responsiveness and functionality. Users increasingly expect their voice assistants to understand nuanced commands, carry context between requests, and even proactively offer helpful suggestions — capabilities that Apple is still working to refine.
If Apple can successfully integrate its legacy Siri features with the new, LLM-powered capabilities, the result could be a voice assistant that seamlessly handles both routine and complex tasks. Imagine asking Siri to not only set an alarm but also adjust your smart home devices, suggest routes based on real-time traffic, or draft an email using your calendar and recent messages as context. This kind of deep integration across Apple’s ecosystem would make Siri not just useful but indispensable.
The Long Road Ahead — But with Hope on the Horizon
Despite the setbacks, Apple’s eventual success could redefine how we interact with our devices. The company’s history shows that it often perfects technology rather than rushing to market — think of how the iPhone revolutionized mobile devices, or how Apple Silicon has transformed Mac performance. If Apple can apply that same patience and precision to Siri’s redevelopment, the wait might just be worth it.
For now, though, Apple fans will need to temper their expectations. While incremental improvements will continue to roll out, the truly revolutionary version of Siri might still be a few years away. Until then, users can only hope that Apple’s AI team can overcome its challenges and deliver the next big leap in voice assistant technology — even if it takes until 2027 to arrive.
