Apple Readies Two New Siri Versions Amid Employee Departures
Apple is gearing up to introduce two new versions of its virtual assistant, Siri, amid recent departures of key personnel. The company has reportedly lost a high-ranking Siri executive and several AI researchers, directly impacting its artificial intelligence development. Notably, Stuart Bowers, a senior Siri executive, has joined Google’s DeepMind, along with researchers Yinfei Yang, Haoxuan You, Bailin Wang, and Zirui Wang.
New Versions of Siri in Development
According to a report by Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple aims to enhance Siri significantly. The first upgrade will be a more personalized Siri, utilizing Google Gemini’s AI capabilities, planned for iOS 26.4. This version is set for beta testing in February 2024, with a public release anticipated in March or April.
Features of the Enhanced Siri
- Enhanced understanding of personal context.
- Improved on-screen awareness.
- Deeper in-app controls.
Apple has indicated that these features will mark a substantial upgrade to Siri’s functionality.
Future Developments: Siri as a Chatbot
The second iteration of Siri is expected to arrive with iOS 27, aiming to transform the assistant into a full-fledged chatbot. This advancement will allow users to engage in sustained conversations with Siri, similar to ChatGPT or Gemini. This new functionality promises to be integrated directly into Apple devices such as the iPhone, iPad, and Mac without needing a separate app.
- The Siri chatbot is described as “competitive with Gemini 3.”
- It will be significantly more capable than the upcoming personalized Siri version.
These innovations underline Apple’s commitment to advancing its AI technology while navigating challenges in staffing and development.
