Apple is reportedly preparing a significant update to Siri, scheduled for release in early 2026, aimed at enhancing the assistant’s intelligence, functionality, and integration with third-party apps.
Highlights
- Major Upgrade in 2026: Apple is preparing a significantly enhanced Siri for spring 2026, focusing on improved intelligence, functionality, and deeper integration with apps.
- App Intents Integration: Enables Siri to perform complex, multi-step actions via voice, linking with Shortcuts, Spotlight, Widgets, and compatible third-party apps.
- Expanded Use Cases: Includes tasks like editing photos, posting to Instagram, shopping online, and logging in to apps hands-free.
- Developer Collaborations: Apple is testing with apps like Amazon, Facebook, Temu, Threads, Uber, WhatsApp, YouTube, and games; sensitive categories like banking and health will have restrictions.
- Focus on Reliability: Engineers are emphasizing accuracy and stability, especially for critical tasks and sensitive data interactions.
- Enhanced Context Awareness: Siri will recognize on-screen content, personalize responses, and adapt suggestions for greater relevance.
- “LLM Siri” Development: A more conversational, ChatGPT-like Siri is in the works, offering richer natural language abilities and stronger App Intents support.
- Gradual Rollout: Some features could arrive earlier, but the full upgrade is expected with iOS 26.4 in spring 2026.
The upgrade follows a delay in introducing advanced Siri features in iOS 18 during 2024, as Apple worked to refine its approach amid growing competition in the generative AI space.
Expanding Siri’s Capabilities
The updated Siri will debut alongside a new App Intents framework, designed to let developers extend app-specific functions to system-level experiences such as Shortcuts, Spotlight, Siri, and Widgets.
This integration will enable Siri to carry out more complex, multi-step actions entirely via voice commands.
For example, users could ask Siri to,
- Locate, edit, and send a photo
- Post a comment on Instagram
- Browse an online store, add products to a cart, and proceed to checkout
- Log in to an app without manual interaction
Apple is testing these capabilities with popular apps including Amazon, Facebook, Temu, Threads, Uber, WhatsApp, YouTube, and select mobile games. Certain functions in sensitive categories like banking and health may be limited to minimize the risk of errors.
Cautious Rollout and Reliability Focus
While the upgrade is expected to launch with iOS 26.4 in spring 2026, Apple is reportedly taking a measured approach to ensure stability and accuracy. Engineers are prioritizing reliability for critical use cases, especially in sensitive apps, based on results from internal testing.
Enhanced Context Awareness and Personalization
Beyond App Intents, the new Siri will leverage Apple Intelligence for improved contextual understanding and more personalized responses.
The assistant will be able to recognize on-screen content and adapt its suggestions accordingly, delivering a more relevant and user-specific experience.
“LLM Siri”
Apple is also developing a version internally referred to as “LLM Siri”, which aims to offer a more conversational, ChatGPT-like interaction style.
This model is expected to feature richer natural language processing abilities and deeper integration with App Intents. While parts of this upgrade may arrive gradually, full functionality is projected for spring 2026.
If development proceeds as planned, the enhanced Siri and App Intents integration will arrive as part of iOS 26.4 in spring 2026.
