Apple’s AI-Powered Siri Overhaul Faces Delays Due to Software Bugs

Apple’s AI-powered Siri overhaul is facing technical issues and software bugs, potentially delaying its rollout from April to May or later. Key features, including improved personalization and app control, remain inconsistent in testing. Apple may release some functions disabled by default in iOS 18.4, with full activation in iOS 18.5.

Apple’s AI-Powered Siri Overhaul Faces Delays Due to Software Bugs

Apple’s long-awaited AI-powered Siri overhaul is encountering technical challenges and software bugs, which could delay or limit its release, according to sources familiar with the matter. The company introduced its vision for an upgraded Siri during last year’s developer conference and has since promoted some of the upcoming features. However, engineers are still working to finalize the software, and some capabilities originally slated for an April rollout may be postponed until May or later.

This Siri upgrade is a key component of the Apple Intelligence platform, an initiative designed to help Apple catch up in the AI race and drive iPhone sales. The broader rollout of Apple Intelligence has already faced hurdles, with certain features, such as AI-generated news summaries, experiencing glitches.

Apple originally announced three major improvements for Siri:

• The ability to leverage user data to provide more personalized responses and take relevant actions.
• Enhanced control over apps, allowing Siri to execute commands with greater precision.
• Improved contextual awareness, enabling Siri to analyze what’s on a device’s screen to better assist users.

While Apple had hinted that these upgrades wouldn’t arrive until 2025, internal plans aimed to introduce them with iOS 18.4 in April. Now, the company is considering pushing some of these features to iOS 18.5, expected as early as May.

One of the more anticipated capabilities at risk of delay is Siri’s ability to quickly retrieve information across apps and conversations. For instance, the assistant could find a specific file or song discussed in a text message or even pull up a driver’s license number from stored photos. During internal demonstrations, Apple showcased how Siri could locate a user’s mother’s flight and lunch reservations by scanning emails and messages—though this functionality remains inconsistent in testing.

With iOS 18.4’s beta release for developers expected next week, Apple is running out of time to finalize these features. One option under discussion is including them in the April update but keeping them disabled by default, with activation planned for iOS 18.5.

The delay could also impact Apple’s upcoming smart home hub, which relies on Siri’s upgraded app control functions. This AI-powered device, set for release later this year, is designed for managing smart home appliances and FaceTime calls.

Despite heavy marketing for Apple Intelligence, the company still lags behind competitors like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Meta’s Llama. Internally, Apple’s AI team has struggled to meet deadlines, with some engineers believing the initiative was rushed to satisfy Wall Street’s AI-driven expectations.

CEO Tim Cook has remained optimistic, recently stating that Apple Intelligence is already improving user experiences across iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, iPhone sales saw a slight decline over the holiday quarter, indicating that AI-driven features have yet to significantly boost demand. Cook noted that the iPhone 16 performed better in regions where Apple Intelligence was available.

To strengthen its AI efforts, Apple recently brought in veteran software executive Kim Vorrath, known for refining the original iPhone and Vision Pro software. The AI division is led by John Giannandrea, a former Google executive who joined Apple in 2018.

The staggered release of Apple Intelligence is also affecting Apple’s long-term software development plans. Some features originally intended for iOS 19 in late 2025 might be pushed to 2026.

Beyond Siri, Apple users are still waiting for additional AI features, such as email sorting on iPad and Mac, a new priority notifications interface, and a sketch-style mode in the Image Playground app. The mail feature is expected in iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4, though it is already available on iPhone.

While this year’s Siri enhancements lay the groundwork for a more advanced AI assistant, Apple is planning an even more significant upgrade to make Siri more conversational and competitive with ChatGPT. That update is expected to arrive as early as 2026.