Apple’s next version of Siri is still not ready for a full launch, and the clearest sign of that may be its reported reliance on Google’s Gemini. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg says the upgraded assistant could appear as a beta feature in iOS 27 after a delay that has stretched for nearly two years.
That timeline highlights how far Apple still has to go in the consumer AI race. While rivals have moved quickly to fold generative AI into everyday services, Apple is still working through a major overhaul of the voice assistant that was once positioned as a key part of its Apple Intelligence strategy.
Gemini becomes the core fallback
According to Gurman’s report, Apple has struggled to rebuild Siri from the ground up around generative AI. As a result, the company is now expected to lean heavily on Google’s Gemini model to deliver smarter voice interactions.
That shift would give Siri a more context-aware way of responding and move it closer to the style of a chatbot. It also signals a notable change in how Apple is approaching its virtual assistant, which has long been seen as more limited than newer conversational AI services.
A more modern Siri, but not a free-form one
Apple is also said to be redesigning Siri so it feels more current in daily use. The emphasis is no longer only on simple command execution, but on longer and more natural back-and-forth conversations.
In the version under development, Siri is expected to gain conversation history and document upload support. Those additions would let users do more than issue quick commands, extending the assistant into more complex question-and-answer sessions.
Deeper integration into iOS 27 is also part of the plan. That would make Siri work more closely with the operating system and installed apps, rather than serving only as a basic voice layer.
Privacy still shapes the feature set
Even with those upgrades, some of the more advanced memory and personalization features are reportedly being held back. Gurman says Apple’s concerns about privacy are a major reason for that limitation.
One feature being prepared is an auto-delete option for chats. Users would reportedly be able to choose whether conversations are removed after 30 days, after one year, or kept permanently.
That approach shows Apple is still trying to balance a more personal AI experience with strict control over user data. It also reflects the company’s long-standing privacy messaging, which remains central even as it pushes deeper into AI.
A long delay leaves Apple cautious
The Siri overhaul has already been promised for a long time, and the delay is now approaching two years. Even after that development period, Apple is still said to be unsure whether the new experience is polished enough for a release without beta labeling.
A beta rollout would give Apple room to refine the product after launch and reduce pressure if stability or performance falls short. It would also underline how difficult it has been for Apple to match expectations in AI, especially while the rest of the market has moved faster.
For now, the picture is becoming clearer even if the product is not ready. Apple appears to be aiming for a Siri that is more conversational, more context-aware, and more deeply connected to the system, while still keeping a tight hold on sensitive personal data features.
Source: tech.sportskeeda.com