Is Apple's new Siri release delayed again? Reportedly, testing revealed issues, and some features may be launched in September.

Recent reports indicate that due to technical bottlenecks encountered during recent testing, Apple’s highly anticipated rollout of multiple Siri virtual assistant features is facing significant delays.

According to reports on Wednesday, U.S. Eastern Time, Apple initially planned to launch new Siri features alongside the release of the new operating system iOS 26.4 in March 2026, and maintained this target until last month. Apple executives have long insisted they do not want the new features to be delayed beyond spring 2026. After issues were discovered during testing, Apple is now considering dispersing some features into subsequent iOS updates, with some possibly delayed until May with iOS 26.5 or even September with iOS 27.

The report cites sources familiar with the matter, stating that during testing, the new Siri exposed issues such as the software’s inability to correctly handle queries, long response times, and insufficient accuracy, which are the main reasons for the delay. Insiders note that the situation remains fluid, and Apple’s plans may be further adjusted.

Apple declined to comment on the above reports. Following the news, Apple’s stock, which had risen over 2% in midday trading, accelerated its decline, with intraday gains narrowing to less than 0.6%. It closed up nearly 0.7%, retracing more than half of its earlier gains.

This delay marks the latest setback in Apple’s Siri upgrade plans. Apple first showcased plans for a version of Siri powered by its Apple Intelligence personal smart system in June 2024, promising that Siri would better utilize personal data and screen content to meet user needs, and enable precise voice control of applications. All new features were originally scheduled for early 2025. By spring 2025, Apple had already pushed back the release to 2026, without publicly specifying a precise release date thereafter.

The news of Siri’s delay this Wednesday presents a new challenge to Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy. As competitors accelerate their AI product development, technical bottlenecks could further widen the gap between Apple and market leaders, potentially impacting investor confidence in its AI transformation progress.

Testing reveals multiple technical flaws

Sources familiar with the matter disclosed that recent testing uncovered a series of serious issues. Siri not only fails to consistently handle user queries correctly but also often takes too long to process requests. Testers also reported accuracy problems and a bug where Siri interrupts users when they speak too quickly.

More problematic are issues that arise when handling complex queries requiring longer processing times. Another challenge is that the new Siri sometimes reverts to using its existing OpenAI ChatGPT integration instead of Apple’s own technology, even when it should be capable of handling these requests.

Insiders say that as early as late 2025, internal versions of the new Siri ran so slowly that developers believed a delay of several months was necessary. Recently, Apple has instructed engineers to test new features using the upcoming iOS 26.5, implying that some features have been pushed back at least one version. An internal build of this update now includes notifications describing enhancements to Siri.

Personal Data Features Hit Hardest by Delays

Among all delayed features, the expansion of Siri’s ability to utilize personal data is especially likely to be postponed. This technology was supposed to allow users to ask the assistant to search old messages for podcasts shared by friends and play them immediately.

An internal version of iOS 26.5 also includes a toggle switch enabling employees to enable a “preview” of this feature, indicating that Apple is considering warning users that the initial version may be incomplete or unreliable—similar to its approach with beta testing new operating systems.

Another delayed feature is the advanced command system based on in-app voice control, known as app intents. Originally, this system would allow users to request Siri to find images, edit them, and send them to contacts with a single command. Apple employees testing iOS 26.5 report that these features have early support but are not yet reliably operational in all cases.

Unannounced features still expected to launch on schedule

Despite setbacks, Apple is still developing two unannounced features: a web search tool and custom image generation. The current iOS 26.5 beta includes these features, and they were also tested in iOS 26.4, suggesting some of the new Siri functionalities may still be released as originally planned.

The web search feature is similar to Gemini, part of Google Search or Perplexity. It allows users to request information from the web and receive comprehensive responses, summaries, and links to relevant sites. The image generation feature uses the same engine as Apple’s Image Playground app, but testers say it remains unstable.

More aggressive redesign planned for iOS 27

In addition to current upgrades, Apple is working on a major AI project for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27: a comprehensive overhaul of Siri that functions more like a chat-based assistant. This version will be supported by Google servers and a more advanced custom Gemini model.

Codenamed “Campo,” this project aims to deeply integrate AI into Apple’s operating systems, providing interfaces and features akin to ChatGPT-style assistants. Apple is also testing this system through a standalone Siri app, allowing users to manage previous chatbot interactions.

A key part of the next-generation Siri interface will be the ability to control the entire OS and access personal data such as files. Apple also plans to leverage the new Siri engine within its core apps, including Mail, Calendar, and Safari.

Privacy stance may slow development

One reason for the lengthy development of personal data features is Apple’s strict privacy stance. According to reports, during a company-wide meeting last week, software engineering chief Craig Federighi emphasized that personalized AI must not expose user data.

Federighi reportedly said, “We believe that when a model receives your questions, that data must remain private, which is extremely important,” and added, “The industry standard is to send data to servers where it is recorded, exposed to the company, and used for training.”

Apple is leading the way by keeping AI either on the device or on privacy-protecting servers, Federighi said. The company also relies on authorized information and synthetic data—artificially generated data that simulates real-world inputs—rather than directly using user materials.

At the same meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at more changes ahead, mentioning that the company is developing new data center chips to enhance AI capabilities.

Cook stated, “Apple’s chips enable us to build data center solutions tailored for our devices,” and added, “Looking ahead, the work we’re doing will make possible a new category of products and services.” Media interpret this as likely referring to the Baltra project, a long-term initiative to develop high-performance chips for cloud AI processing.

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