New Siri Runs Into Problems, Features Could Be Pushed to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27

Source: MacRumors

Background

Apple has been developing a more personalized, smarter version of Siri that was first announced at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The new Siri, part of Apple Intelligence, was originally rumored for a spring 2025 launch, but the timeline has shifted multiple times.

Testing Issues

During internal testing for the iOS 26.4 beta, engineers encountered several problems:

• Siri sometimes fails to process queries correctly.
• Response times can be unusually long.

These snags have led Apple to reconsider the rollout schedule.

Potential Delays

Because of the testing setbacks, Apple may postpone some or all of the new Siri features:

• iOS 26.5 – slated for May 2026, could serve as the next internal testing platform. The build includes notices about the upcoming Siri features and a “preview” toggle that enables personalization (access to user data such as text messages and emails).
• iOS 27 – expected to launch in September 2026, may receive the remaining functionality that cannot be delivered in iOS 26.5.

Employees testing iOS 26.5 report that the update contains the promised features—personalization, on‑screen awareness, and expanded cross‑app capabilities—but not all of them work reliably, and accuracy issues persist.

Feature Overview

• Personalization – Siri can tap into user data (e.g., messages, emails) to provide more tailored responses.
• On‑screen awareness – The assistant can understand context from what is displayed on the device.
• Cross‑app actions – Siri can perform more tasks within and between apps.

Apple is also partnering with Google to improve web search capabilities, allowing Siri to summarize information from the web via tools like Image Playground.

Outlook

Bloomberg describes the situation as “fluid,” indicating that Apple’s plans could still evolve. Executives appear reluctant to delay Siri’s functionality beyond spring 2026, but further adjustments remain possible.

Source: MacRumors.com