Apple’s AI-powered Siri upgrade hits snags, may be delayed

Apple’s plans to make Siri AI-powered are falling apart. According to a CNBC report, engineering issues and software bugs are causing major setbacks, meaning the April launch may now be pushed to May or later.

Apple first announced that it would bring AI to Siri around two years ago at its June 2023 developer conference, where it promised that AI will make Siri a smarter assistant capable of handling personal data, deeper app control, and screen awareness.

The iOS 18.4 update was supposed to introduce a more advanced, context-aware Siri, but apparently, the tech just isn’t ready.

AI-powered Siri is still not ready for public use

Siri is meant to scan a user’s messages, emails, and photos to find relevant information—like a flight reservation or a driver’s license number—but the feature doesn’t work consistently, according to the CNBC report.

A demonstration last year reportedly showed Siri effortlessly pulling up a mom’s lunch plans and flight details from texts and emails, but engineers say the reality is far from smooth.

Apple may either launch iOS 18.4 with the AI features disabled or delay them until iOS 18.5 in May. Neither option is ideal, but the current version isn’t reliable enough for public release.

Reportedly, Apple is also developing a new AI-powered home device meant to control smart appliances and FaceTime calls (like Alexa). However, its core functions depend on Siri’s new App Intents system, which means that as long as it remains broken, the home device plans are also halted.

John Giannandrea, Apple’s AI chief and a former Google executive, has been leading the project, Although CNBC reports that he is dragging the AI team behind schedule. Engineers believe Apple rushed the Apple Intelligence rollout to keep up with OpenAI, Google, and Meta, but the technology wasn’t ready for mass adoption.

Apple undeterred by bumps in its AI journey

CEO Tim Cook defended the company’s AI strategy during its earnings call last month, saying, “Apple Intelligence opens up an exciting new frontier.” But still, iPhone revenue dropped 1% during the holiday quarter, according to the earnings report.

CNBC’s report claims other Apple Intelligence features are having issues too, as users were expecting AI-driven email sorting on iPad and Mac, a smarter notification system, and an AI-powered sketch tool in Image Playground. While some of these features are still set to launch in iPadOS 18.4 and macOS 15.4, Apple hasn’t confirmed when the full suite of AI tools will be ready.

Meanwhile, Apple is also dealing with AI regulatory challenges in China. To launch Apple Intelligence in the Chinese market, the company is working with Alibaba and Baidu to develop a government-approved AI system. China’s strict tech regulations mean Apple has to modify its AI models, which could further complicate Siri’s global rollout.

Meanwhile, at the France AI Action Summit on February 11, the US and UK refused to sign an international AI declaration, reportedly citing concerns about global AI governance.

The US has not given an official reason for skipping the agreement, The US has not given an official reason for skipping the agreement, while the UK stated that the pact “didn’t provide enough practical clarity on global governance and security concerns,” yet it agreed to commitments on AI sustainability and cybersecurity.

The Paris AI Summit produced a joint statement titled “Statement on Inclusive and Sustainable Artificial Intelligence,” which called for AI systems to be open, ethical, and transparent.

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