According to 9to5Mac, Apple’s long-delayed AI overhaul for Siri is finally set to launch this year, specifically with the iOS 26.4 update. The report, corroborating earlier leaks, pins the expected public release for late March 2025, based on Apple’s historical release patterns for previous iOS x.4 updates. The timing hinges on when the first beta lands, which could be anywhere from late January to mid-February. The core change is a complete architectural shift, replacing Siri’s years-old backend with a new Large Language Model (LLM) system. This overhaul is expected to enable powerful new features originally slated for iOS 18, fundamentally changing how Siri understands and assists users.
Siri Finally Gets Its Brain
Look, we’ve all been here before with Siri promises. But this feels different. This isn’t just adding a new voice or a few extra commands. They’re basically ripping out the old engine and dropping in a modern LLM. That’s a huge deal. It means Siri should finally move beyond simple, pre-programmed responses and start understanding context and intent like ChatGPT or Gemini do. The question is, can Apple‘s version do it with the privacy and on-device processing they love to tout? That’s the real trick.
The March Waiting Game
So, March. Probably late March. That’s the bet. 9to5Mac’s look at the last few iOS 16.4, 17.4, and 18.4 releases shows a pattern, but Apple loves to keep us guessing. An early beta in January could mean an early March launch. A later beta pushes it back. Here’s the thing: after all these delays, what’s another few weeks? The anticipation is so pent-up at this point that the actual date almost doesn’t matter. People just want it to work. They want the Siri that was promised what feels like ages ago.
What We’re Actually Expecting
The feature list is what’s exciting. We’re talking about cross-app functionality, where you could tell Siri to find a document you emailed to yourself last week and then summarize it. Or complex, multi-step tasks that actually complete correctly. This is the stuff that could make Siri feel indispensable instead of an occasional timer-setter. I think the success won’t be in one flashy trick, but in the daily, small interactions just being… smarter. Less “I’m sorry, I can’t help with that,” and more actual help.
And let’s be real, the pressure is on. For a company that’s all about integrated hardware and software, Siri has been a glaring weak spot in the age of AI. This launch needs to land. If it’s buggy or underwhelming, the narrative will be brutal. But if it’s seamless and powerful? It could suddenly make the entire Apple ecosystem feel a generation ahead. We’ll be watching those beta releases very, very closely. You can follow more of this over on 9to5Mac’s Twitter or their YouTube channel.
