According to reports, Apple has pushed back the full launch of its Gemini-powered Siri overhaul. The company is still struggling with some technical problems and performance issues. Apple will slowly roll out highly anticipated features, like personal context awareness and advanced in-app actions, starting with iOS 26.5 and continuing into iOS 27.
Apple fans have been waiting a long time for Siri to get the “brain transplant” it needs. But the latest news says that the big unveiling of the new AI-powered assistant is running into some unexpected problems. Apple is now moving away from a huge launch of the Gemini AI-powered Siri to a slower, phased feature rollout that could last until late 2025, or even longer, delaying key features.
The ambition behind the new Siri is big. Apple is building it on a new architecture codenamed “Linwood” and backed by Google’s Gemini technology. The company wants the assistant to understand personal context and take actions within apps. Unfortunately, early testing has uncovered several “snags.”
Testers have reported that the new Siri can be sluggish, as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. Sometimes it takes too long to process requests or failing to understand complex queries altogether. There is even a peculiar bug where Siri cuts users off if they speak too quickly. Because of these stability issues, Apple executives have reportedly decided to spread the new capabilities across multiple software updates rather than risking a buggy launch in iOS 26.4.
One of the most anticipated features — the ability for Siri to tap into your personal data — is likely to be delayed. This function would allow you to ask Siri to “find that podcast my friend texted me last month” and have it play immediately. While internal versions of iOS 26.5 include a “preview” toggle for this, it suggests the feature isn’t quite ready for prime time.
Similarly, advanced “app intents” — which would let you ask Siri to find a photo, edit it, and send it to a contact in one go — are still behaving unreliably. In some cases, Siri even falls back on its ChatGPT integration for tasks it should theoretically be able to handle on its own.
Even though there have been delays, it’s not all bad news. The big tech firm is still working on a new web search tool that works like AI search engines like Perplexity by giving you synthesized answers and links that are relevant. There is also progress on custom image generation, though testers note that it remains a bit “finicky.”
Looking further ahead, Apple is already working on “Project Campo” for iOS 27. This initiative aims to turn Siri into a full-blown chatbot that can manage prior interactions. It can also integrate deeply with Mail, Calendar, and Safari.
A major reason for the slow pace is Apple’s refusal to compromise on privacy. While other companies process user data on open servers, Apple is insisting on a “Private Cloud Compute” model. This ensures that even when tasks are sent to the cloud, the data remains encrypted and invisible to the company.
As CEO Tim Cook recently hinted, Apple is even building its own data center chips to power these services securely. It seems the “new” Siri is coming — just not all at once. For now, users will have to get used to a batch-by-batch evolution of their favorite voice assistant.
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