Apple Won't Deliver 'Conversational' Siri Until 2027

Apple's plans for a truly modern Siri have hit a major delay. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that internal sources expect a "true modernized, conversational version of Siri" won't reach consumers until iOS 20 in 2027.

The tech giant plans to release an LLM-powered Siri upgrade in iOS 18.5, but it's running two separate systems: one for basic commands and another for advanced AI features. This split approach "doesn't work as smoothly as it could."

Split Brain: Siri's Dual System Challenge

The challenges run deeper than architecture. Apple struggled to secure enough AI training hardware, particularly Nvidia chips, after being caught off guard by ChatGPT's success. Meanwhile, "ineffective leadership" and talent exodus plague the AI division, with internal sources saying their AI models are "reaching their limits."

Amazon Takes the Lead

The contrast with competitors is striking. Amazon has announced Alexa+, featuring what devices chief Panos Panay calls a "hundred percent re-architected" system that successfully merges old and new capabilities. Apple's response? Moving veteran software manager Kim Vorrath to the AI team.

Apple's delay isn't just a minor setback. AI is fundamentally changing how we interact with technology. Apple's ecosystem - traditionally its strongest asset - could become vulnerable if the company can't deliver competitive AI features.

'Nice-to-Have' Features Fall Flat

Apple's broader suite of AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence, has been rolling out since October. Current capabilities include writing tools, voicemail transcriptions, custom-generated emojis called Genmoji, and the Image Playground app. However, these features are described as "nice-to-have options at best" with some being "basically useless." Internal company data suggests real-world usage remains extremely low.

For Apple users hoping Siri might soon match ChatGPT's capabilities, it's going to be a long wait. The company that revolutionized mobile computing now finds itself playing an extended game of catch-up in the AI race.

Why this matters:

• Apple's AI delays could threaten its ecosystem dominance as competitors race ahead with more capable AI assistants
• By 2027, when Apple plans to deliver its conversational Siri, the AI landscape could be unrecognizable - potentially leaving Apple scrambling to remain relevant in a transformed market

Read on, my dear:

• Bloomberg: Apple’s Artificial Intelligence Efforts Reach a Make-or-Break Point