After nearly two years of internal struggle and competitive pressure, Apple is preparing to deliver on a promise it first made in the summer of 2024 — an AI-powered Siri capable of understanding context, reading screens, and navigating apps through voice. The release of iOS 26.4, built on Google's Gemini models rather than Apple's own technology, marks a rare moment of institutional humility from a company that has long prided itself on self-reliance. It arrives into a market that has not stood still, raising the enduring question of whether a well-made answer, delayed, can still find its mome
Apple Finally Launches AI-Powered Siri in iOS 26.4, Powered by Google's Gemini
Nearly two years late, Apple finally ships the Siri it promised
Mark
Why did it take Apple nearly two years to ship something it announced at WWDC 2024?
Mimi
The reporting suggests internal development hit serious obstacles. John Giannandrea, who was leading the effort, was pushed aside as delays mounted. Craig Federighi took over, but by then the company had already missed its original iOS 18 window. Rather than keep waiting, they decided to partner with Google's Gemini.
Luke
That's the official story, but we should be clear: the source material doesn't explain what specifically went wrong with Apple's internal AI work. We know there were delays and a leadership change, but the actual technical reasons aren't detailed. We're inferring the rest.
Mark
So Apple is now relying on Google's technology. How significant is that?
Mimi
It's a big shift for a company that typically builds its own core systems. But the reporting says Apple tested both internal and external options and decided Gemini was the strongest foundation. It's a pragmatic choice—get a working product out rather than wait longer.
Luke
Right, but we should note that's Apple's characterization. We don't have independent verification of how close Apple's internal models were, or whether the choice was purely technical or also driven by the time pressure. The source only tells us what Apple decided, not the full reasoning.
Mark
What exactly will this Siri do that's different?
Mimi
Three main things: it can search your personal messages, emails, and notes to find information without you having to dig manually. It can see what's on your screen and act based on that. And it has better voice controls for managing apps. Basically, it moves Siri from a simple voice responder to something that understands your context.
Luke
Those are real capabilities, but we should be careful about the word "understand." The source says Siri will have "personal context awareness," but that's marketing language. What it actually means is the assistant can access and search your data. That's powerful, but it's different from understanding in the way humans do.
Mark
Is this the final version of AI Siri?
Mimi
No. This is iOS 26.4, coming in late March or early April. Apple has a bigger redesign planned for iOS 27 in September—a full chatbot-style assistant that works more like ChatGPT with conversational abilities. So this is the first step.
Luke
And that's worth noting: Apple is essentially shipping a halfway version now, then promising something more ambitious later. We don't know if iOS 27's version will actually ship on time, given the history here. The company has already missed its original timeline once.
Le Pouls
- Apple is shipping iOS 26.4 by late March — nearly two years after first promising an AI-upgraded Siri, while rivals like Google and OpenAI have continued to widen their lead.
- Internal delays, leadership reshuffles, and failed development timelines forced Apple to abandon its preference for homegrown technology and turn to Google's Gemini models as its AI foundation.
- The update delivers three meaningful capabilities: Siri can now search your messages and emails for context, read what's on your screen, and control apps through voice with real precision.
- Apple's AI chief John Giannandrea was sidelined, Craig Federighi stepped in to rescue the project, and what was meant for iOS 18 is only now reaching users — a rare and public stumble for the company.
- A more radical Siri overhaul, modeled on ChatGPT's conversational interface, is already planned for iOS 27 in September, signaling that this release is a repair, not a destination.
After nearly two years of internal struggle and competitive pressure, Apple is preparing to deliver on a promise it first made in the summer of 2024 — an AI-powered Siri capable of understanding context, reading screens, and navigating apps through voice. The release of iOS 26.4, built on Google's Gemini models rather than Apple's own technology, marks a rare moment of institutional humility from a company that has long prided itself on self-reliance. It arrives into a market that has not stood still, raising the enduring question of whether a well-made answer, delayed, can still find its moment.
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.4 in late March or early April, bringing with it the AI-powered Siri capabilities the company first announced at its developer conference in June 2024. Developer betas are expected the week of February 23, with a public beta to follow in March. The delay has been conspicuous — competitors moved forward while Apple's internal development stalled.
The update introduces three substantive changes to Siri. A Personal Context feature allows the assistant to search through messages, emails, and notes to surface information or complete tasks on a user's behalf. On-screen awareness lets Siri read what is currently displayed and act on it. A third capability brings more precise voice control across individual apps and between them — a meaningful step beyond what Siri has historically offered.
Perhaps the most telling detail in this release is the technology behind it. Apple confirmed it has selected Google's Gemini models as the foundation for its AI work, after evaluating both internal and external options. The decision reflects how difficult the road here has been. John Giannandrea, Apple's AI chief, was removed from the project as delays mounted. Craig Federighi assumed control. Features originally planned for iOS 18 kept slipping, ultimately pushing Apple toward an outside partnership it would not have sought under easier circumstances.
IOS 26.4 is not Apple's final answer on AI. A more ambitious redesign — one that would give Siri a fully conversational, ChatGPT-style interface — is planned for iOS 27, expected in September. For now, this update represents Apple's first genuine attempt to close the gap with competitors who have spent two years building user habits around their own AI assistants.
Apple is finally ready to ship the AI-powered Siri it promised nearly two years ago. The company will announce iOS 26.4 in the coming weeks, with the first developer beta arriving the week of February 23, according to reporting from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. A public beta should follow sometime in March, with the full release expected by late March or early April. The delay is striking—Apple first teased this upgrade at its developer conference in June 2024, then watched competitors like Google and OpenAI pull further ahead while internal struggles and postponements kept the feature from shipping.
The update centers on three concrete capabilities designed to transform Siri from a basic voice responder into something genuinely functional. Personal Context will let Siri search through your messages, emails, and notes to find specific information or complete tasks without requiring you to manually hunt through your device. On-screen awareness gives the assistant the ability to see what's currently displayed and act on it. A third layer adds refined in-app and cross-app voice controls, letting you manage applications through speech with far greater precision than Siri has offered before.
What makes this release particularly notable is not just what Siri will do, but who is building it. Apple confirmed this month that it has chosen Google's Gemini models as the foundation for what it calls Apple Foundation Models. The decision came after the company tested both internal and external options and concluded that Gemini offered the strongest technical base for the work ahead. This partnership represents a significant turn for Apple, which has long preferred to develop its own core technologies. The choice also reflects the turbulent path that brought the company here. John Giannandrea, Apple's original AI chief, was sidelined as delays accumulated. Craig Federighi, the company's software leader, took control of the project. What was originally slated to ship with iOS 18 kept sliding, forcing Apple to seek outside help rather than continue waiting for internal development to mature.
IOS 26.4 will also include a fresh set of emojis alongside the Siri enhancements. But this update is not the final word on Apple's AI assistant strategy. The company has a more ambitious redesign in the works, scheduled to debut at its developer conference in June and ship with iOS 27 in September. That version will function more like ChatGPT, with full conversational abilities and a chatbot-style interface. For now, iOS 26.4 represents Apple's first serious move to narrow the gap with competitors who have been substantially ahead in the AI assistant race. The question facing the company is whether Gemini-powered Siri, arriving nearly two years after it was first promised, will be enough to matter in a market where users have already grown accustomed to alternatives.
Citations marquantes
Apple tested both internal and external options and decided Gemini offered the strongest foundation for what it's calling Apple Foundation Models— Bloomberg reporting on Apple's AI partnership decision
Envie de l'histoire complète ?
Lire l'original sur Times of India ↗
Technology