Apple Faces Internal Pushback Over Siri’s Upcoming AI Upgrade in iOS 26.4

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Apple’s ambitious plan to introduce a revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence has reportedly hit internal roadblocks. According to a Bloomberg report by Mark Gurman, several Apple engineers have raised concerns about the new Siri’s performance as the company prepares for a major rollout in 2026.

A Key Part of Apple’s AI Strategy

The redesigned Siri is set to debut with iOS 26.4, expected to arrive between March and April 2026. The update will mark one of Apple’s biggest leaps in integrating artificial intelligence across its ecosystem, forming a central pillar of the company’s AI-first strategy.

Apple first showcased the upgraded Siri at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024, unveiling major improvements enabled by its new Apple Intelligence system — the in-house AI framework designed to rival offerings from Google, OpenAI, and Amazon.

Smarter, More Context-Aware Siri

The upcoming Siri promises advanced capabilities such as on-screen awareness, personal context understanding, and in-app control. For instance, Siri will be able to update users about a parent’s flight or lunch reservations by intelligently pulling information from apps like Mail and Messages.

This enhanced contextual awareness is expected to make Siri more conversational and efficient, bridging the gap between Apple’s assistant and leading competitors like Google Assistant or ChatGPT.

Delays and Internal Concerns

Originally, Apple had planned to launch this upgraded Siri alongside iOS 18.4 in 2024. However, the rollout was delayed to allow teams more time for optimization and testing. Even with the new timeline, sources suggest that Apple engineers remain divided about whether the system is ready for mass deployment.

Some internal testers reportedly found inconsistencies in Siri’s responsiveness and accuracy during real-world use. These concerns raise the possibility that Apple may once again postpone the release to ensure a smoother user experience.

High Stakes for Apple

For Apple, Siri’s success is crucial. The company is under immense pressure to prove that Apple Intelligence is not just another buzzword but a transformative technology that can redefine how users interact with their devices.

Competitors like Google’s Gemini AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT are setting new benchmarks for conversational intelligence. Meanwhile, Amazon is revamping Alexa with generative AI features. In this landscape, Apple must ensure Siri delivers real, tangible improvements.

The Bigger Picture

Apple’s AI journey has been cautious compared to its rivals. While companies like Microsoft and Google aggressively integrated AI tools into their products, Apple focused on privacy, device-side computation, and seamless ecosystem integration.

The upcoming Siri upgrade represents Apple’s first large-scale attempt to merge these principles — combining privacy-first design with generative AI power. Yet, the internal skepticism highlights the complexity of that mission.