Apple is rebuilding Siri from the ground up as a large language model (LLM) to compete with ChatGPT and Google Gemini, but the full overhaul won't arrive until iOS 19 and macOS 16, expected in spring 2026. In the meantime, Apple partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT features to iPhones starting in December 2024, giving users access to more advanced AI capabilities while the company completes its own LLM-based Siri. Why Is Apple Taking So Long to Upgrade Siri? Apple announced new AI features called Apple Intelligence at its developer conference last spring, including an updated Siri. However, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, "the company has yet to truly overhaul the software," with upgrades so far being mostly cosmetic. The current iOS 18 updates added a glowing interface and the ability to type to Siri, but these don't represent the fundamental transformation Apple is planning. The internally dubbed "LLM Siri" project will rebuild the voice assistant from scratch, training it on massive amounts of data the way ChatGPT and Gemini are built. This new version will "allow for back-and-forth conversations" and "interact more like a human and handle tasks in a way that's closer to ChatGPT and Google's Gemini," explained Gurman. The delay until 2026 suggests Apple is taking time to ensure the new Siri can match or exceed the capabilities users have come to expect from competing AI chatbots. What's Already Available to iPhone Users? Apple isn't asking users to wait until 2026 for better AI features. The company took a multi-partner approach to bring advanced generative AI to iPhones sooner. iOS 18.2 arrived in December 2024 with ChatGPT integration that works directly with Siri. Apple also announced plans to partner with Google to provide Gemini as an alternative chatbot option. This strategy gives Apple users a choice of AI tools depending on what they need. The company positioned Apple Intelligence as privacy-focused, with many tasks running directly on your device rather than sending data to external servers. When third-party AI tools are needed, Apple asks for your permission before proceeding. Ways to Make the Most of Apple's Current AI Features - Update to iOS 18.2 or Later: If you haven't already updated, iOS 18.2 (released December 2024) gives you access to ChatGPT features integrated with Siri, plus other generative AI tools like Genmoji and Image Playground for creating custom emoji and images. - Explore Multiple AI Options: As Apple offers ChatGPT and Gemini as alternatives, try different chatbots to see which one works best for your specific needs, whether that's writing, coding, math, or creative tasks. - Review Privacy Settings: Check your Apple Intelligence privacy preferences to understand which tasks run on-device versus which require sending data to third-party services like OpenAI or Google. - Prepare for the 2026 Transition: Mark your calendar for iOS 19's expected spring 2026 release, when Apple's native LLM Siri will likely replace the need for third-party chatbot integrations for many common tasks. How Does This Compare to What's Already Available? The current state of AI chatbots shows just how far behind Apple's Siri had fallen. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, and Google Gemini both demonstrated the ability to engage in nuanced conversations, answer complex questions, and assist with creative and technical tasks. Siri, by contrast, remained largely a voice command tool for basic functions like setting timers or checking weather. By planning to fully launch LLM Siri in 2026, Apple essentially acknowledged that its previous approach wasn't competitive. The company's decision to partner with OpenAI and Google in the interim suggested it recognized users needed access to advanced AI capabilities immediately, not years later. This approach also hedged Apple's bets—if its own LLM Siri doesn't perform as well as hoped, users will already have alternatives they're comfortable with. The timeline also reflects the complexity of building a competitive large language model. These AI systems require enormous amounts of training data, significant computational resources, and extensive testing to ensure they work reliably across millions of devices. Apple's 2026 target suggests the company believes it needs additional time to get LLM Siri to a level that matches or exceeds what OpenAI and Google have already achieved.
