Apple has announced plans to release a significant upgrade to its Siri AI in Spring 2026, following a series of delays that have frustrated users.

This announcement clarifies previous vague timelines regarding the rollout of new features, which were initially expected with iOS 18 but faced setbacks.

Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior VP of software engineering, noted that the development of these AI-enhanced features required more time than initially estimated due to the inadequacy of the original AI architecture.

The upcoming Siri upgrade aims to improve functionality by enabling the assistant to understand personal context and perform actions within apps, enhancing user interaction.

Demos have showcased Siri's new capabilities, including referencing emails for flight details and independently embedding images in documents.

This enhancement is part of Apple's multi-year AI strategy, which seeks to advance its capabilities and improve user experience while maintaining a focus on privacy.

Delays in the rollout have been attributed to quality standards not being met, with internal tensions reported between Apple's marketing and engineering teams.

While Apple has not committed to a specific release date, the features are planned for the coming year, with executives using ambiguous language about the timeline.

This strategic pivot reflects Apple's broader goal to enhance its software offerings and remain competitive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Future plans for Siri include developing a more advanced version that functions as a proactive digital copilot, alongside a chatbot-like app called Knowledge.

The anticipated upgrade follows nearly two years of waiting since the initial announcement of these features in June 2024, with users eager for improvements.

Overall, the redesigned Siri is expected to integrate more effectively with user data, allowing for contextual, multi-step tasks that enhance the overall user experience.