Apple was a latecomer to the AI implementation in mobile devices—like the new iPhone 16e. This is evident in iOS’ AI-powered capabilities lagging behind those of companies like Google and Samsung. Now, a report claims that Apple is struggling with the development of some new features. For example, Siri’s “conversational” upgrade, planned for iOS 19, might not arrive until iOS 20.
Some major AI-focused companies have developed conversational experiences for their smart assistants. This allows for more organic and accessible human-machine interaction. People no longer have to use specific and rigid prompts for each request they want to make. ChatGPT and Gemini already integrate conversational systems, and Apple reportedly wants the same for Siri.
Siri’s “conversational” upgrade might not arrive until iOS 20 “at best”
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman revealed in late 2024 the existence of the “LLM Siri” project. It is a system that seeks to offer a more complex conversational experience with Siri. Think of it as something similar to when you use Gemini Live. The current Siri uses two backends depending on the type of request, whether simple or complex. The new LLM Siri could combine both backends and make interaction easier. Apple has historically been known for accessibility in its features, so this move makes sense.
However, it seems that the company is running into technical challenges during development. According to the report, employees in Apple’s AI division believe that it will be impossible for the conversational upgrade to arrive with iOS 19. Users may have to wait until iOS 20 “at best.” That said, the other features promised some time ago for iOS 18 will still arrive in May with iOS 18.5.
Apple found another problem related to its suite of AI-powered features. The report claims that real-world usage of Apple Intelligence is “extremely low.” So, the average iOS user couldn’t be finding the added value in AI that Apple was hoping for. Additionally, iOS 19 could arrive without important new features for the Apple Intelligence suite. Users may have to wait until the release of iOS 20 in 2027 to see major improvements in this section.
