Siri AI Upgrade Missed The Mark In First Attempt - Apple’s Software SVP Craig Federighi

When Apple first teased a revamped Siri at WWDC 2024, it was set to be a major upgrade with its updated voice assistant. It was supposed to offer more natural conversations, understand personal context better, and perform complex tasks within apps. But the reality is that users are still waiting. Also Read: Instagram Launches Limited-Edition Diwali Filters: Here’s How To Use Them

This week, Apple executives Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak explained why. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal during WWDC 2025, they confirmed what many suspected — the first version just didn’t meet Apple’s standards. Also Read: Meta AI Adds UPI Lite, Hindi Support, and Deepika Padukone’s Voice to Ray-Ban Glasses in India

Why has Apple delayed Siri AI?

According to Federighi, while the internal versions of Siri’s new capabilities didn’t quite deliver the kind of consistency Apple expects from its products. It “didn’t converge in the way, quality-wise, that we needed it to,” he mentioned in the interview. The goal is to simply make Siri not just smart, but also dependable, he explained Siri’s shortcomings.  Also Read: A Phone That Thinks And Moves? Honor Robot Phone Has A Camera That Pops Out

So, what’s the holdup? Federighi acknowledged that building AI tools that work reliably on devices, without constantly depending on cloud servers, is tough. Instead of rushing out a version that might fall short, Apple has chosen to wait. 

Siri Now Expected in 2026

Originally expected sometime in 2025, Apple now says Siri’s major upgrades will roll out in 2026 — though there’s no specific date yet. Federighi insists the company is still committed to delivering everything it announced, just not before it’s ready. However, the eyes on Siri and its updated version have taken a serious turn as its rivals, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI, have continuously updated their AI portfolio with new models and updates. 

In the meantime, Apple has opened up access to its foundation models for developers through a new API. This lets apps tap into some of Apple’s AI tools without needing to rely on third-party platforms.