Apple Builds ChatGPT-Like App To Test Next-Gen Siri Before 2026 Launch

Apple is quietly testing a new internal tool that looks a lot like ChatGPT. The app, called Veritas, is being used by engineers to prepare for the biggest upgrade to Siri in years.

According to Bloomberg, the app is not meant for the public. The app is being used by Apple’s AI team to run mock conversations and see how Siri responds in different situations. It helps them tweak replies, test follow-up questions, and sort out errors before the assistant goes public.

At the heart of this testing is a new system, codenamed Linwood. This is the technology Apple has built to power the next-generation Siri. It leans heavily on large language models, combining Apple’s own work with elements of a third-party model. The goal is to make Siri sound more natural and be more useful than it has been in the past.

Apple had originally hoped to roll out the revamped Siri with iOS 18, but that didn’t happen. The launch is now expected in early 2026, with Bloomberg pointing to March as the likely window. Users could also get an early look next year, when Apple plans to give Siri a fresh visual design.

This move comes at a time when Apple is under pressure in the AI race. Google and Samsung have already pushed AI deeper into their products, while Apple has taken a slower approach. Behind the scenes, the company has also held talks with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google about integrating their models into Apple devices.

Alongside Siri, Apple is said to be working on new AI-driven smart home devices and expanding AI features in search. For now, Veritas is just a test app. But it offers a clear sign that Apple wants Siri to feel less like the assistant of yesterday and more like a serious rival to today’s chatbots.