iOS 26.4 Expected to Bring Long-Awaited, Rebuilt Siri in 2026
Apple quietly sidestepped any mention of the highly anticipated Siri AI upgrade at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), a stark contrast to last year’s prominent showcasing of the on-device assistant. This omission comes as no surprise, given the ongoing delays plaguing the promised enhancements. The tech giant is now reportedly aiming for a release in 2026, according to recent reports.
Originally slated for a late 2024 rollout, the revamped Siri’s launch was first pushed to 2025 and has now faced further setbacks. A Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman indicates that Apple plans to introduce the updated Siri alongside iOS 26.4, an update typically released in March. However, beyond a general spring timeframe, no concrete release date has been set.
Engineering Challenges and Rebuild
Apple has been facing persistent delays largely due to significant engineering challenges. Previous reports revealed that engineers had split Siri’s architecture into two distinct systems: an older one handling routine tasks and a newer one built for advanced functionalities. The integration of these two architectures led to numerous bugs and system failures, necessitating a complete rebuild of Siri from the ground up.
Future Vision: Contextual Tasks and ‘Knowledge’ App
Apple has designed the forthcoming iteration of Siri to be far more intelligent, using user data and on-screen content to carry out complex, multi-step contextual tasks. Looking ahead, Apple harbours even more ambitious plans, envisioning Siri as a conversational, always-on device copilot. In parallel, the company is also reportedly developing a new chatbot-like application, internally named “Knowledge,” which will possess the capability to access information from the open web.
