Apple’s own virtual assistant is getting pushed back in its expected upgrades. The firm had previously said the new Siri would be rolling out with the new iOS 26.4 update expected in March. New details imply a much slower rollout for the promised features, with several major improvements delayed to future updates.
The other reality is that Siri has always been a critical component of Apple’s walled garden. Users and technology folks alike were on tenterhooks waiting for these new improvements. Combined, the updates greatly improve functionality and improve user experience. For starters, these new guidelines directly address a number of criticisms the assistant has received in recent years.
The updated timeline uncovers a new lag for some aspects of the new Siri. They’ll instead be rolling out with the May iOS update. This delay is a major departure from initial hopes that users would have a brand new complete T over by March. We can’t expect many new features at least until iOS 27 comes out in September. That means a phased approach to the rollout.
Product managers overseeing Siri’s development are reportedly working to ensure that the assistant remains competitive amidst growing alternatives in the market. This encompasses improving voice recognition features and increasing Siri’s contextual awareness to improve how well she addresses user queries. The phased rollout approach would hopefully enable more in-depth testing and public comment before final integration.
Even with the delays, it may be that Apple is intent on providing a much stronger independent solution in Siri. There is a strategic purpose to spacing out feature releases. It avoids bombarding users with a barrage of new changes all at once and allows for iterative improvements to be made, all informed by watching how users engage.
