Apple’s new voice assistant is on the way: after months of rumors and partial reports, Apple’s CEO confirms for the first time Tim Cook Because the new Siri will be launched in 2026. According to him, development is progressing at a good pace, and the company plans to integrate it as part of the iOS 26.4 operating system that will be launched next year. In doing so, Cook confirms that Apple does not intend to delay the launch, unlike the delays that characterized previous versions of Siri.
According to Cook, the next generation of Siri will be “more personal than ever before”, and will be able to adapt its behavior to the user’s habits, preferences and personal speech style. The assistant will be based on artificial intelligence models that work directly on the device, and not on cloud servers, which will ensure maximum privacy and a higher response speed.
Meanwhile, Cook noted that this year Apple has already integrated dozens of new features based on artificial intelligence as part of the “Apple Intelligence” initiative. Among the notable innovations: the Live Translation feature that enables real-time translation between languages, a Visual Intelligence tool that analyzes images and visual information with one click, and advanced writing and image tools that allow the creation of new texts and images with just one click.
Cook also introduced Workout Buddy, a new feature on Apple watches that analyzes the user’s fitness data and offers insights and personal recommendations to improve training. According to him, this is a “perfect example of responsible and innovative use of artificial intelligence, which empowers the user without harming his privacy.”
Along with the enthusiasm, publications from Bloomberg indicated that there are already concerns at Apple about the performance of the new Siri. Internal testers of iOS 26.4 reportedly reported slow responses and problems understanding context in complex conversations. However, Apple estimates that the issues will be resolved by the official launch date.
For the first time since its launch more than a decade ago, Siri is expected to undergo a profound change that will bring it closer to its competitors in the world of artificial intelligence in question, including Google, Amazon and even Microsoft. The new Siri is expected to offer more natural responses, broad contextual understanding and a flexible language that will allow her to converse almost like a real person.
Apple hopes that the new generation will restore Siri to its original position as one of the inventions most associated with the brand, after in recent years it was perceived as being left behind. If the company does stick to the schedule presented by Cook, the new Siri will be officially unveiled at Apple’s fall event in 2026, and will be one of the company’s most significant launches in recent years.