Apple aims to release its highly anticipated App Intents and comprehensive Siri overhaul in the spring of next year, likely with the release of iOS 26.4, which will mark an important moment for the company’s artificial intelligence ecosystem. While it will be a major step for the company, it is better to look at it with balanced expectations, considering the company is far behind its peers in the industry and the evolving technology. Apple was initially reported to release these features this spring with iOS 18.4, but several delays pushed the release to next year.
Apple plans to launch Siri’s App Intents in iOS 26.4, but widespread usefulness will depend on strong third-party developer participation
According to Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, Apple will release the upgraded version of Siri with proper AI features support next year in the spring, which means that it could hit compatible iPhone models between March and April. Currently, Apple’s Siri delays have taken all the fun out of the operating systems, and Apple Intelligence appears to be standing where it started with no solid upgrades. It appears that the company is working behind the scenes to strengthen its premium features, with reports suggesting they could become available to the public early next year.
Apple also showcased a version of Siri with App Intents, which means that the AI-powered assistant would be able to perform in-app actions based on voice commands. The vision for the assistant was profound and an upgrade over the current version, but unfortunately, it never made it out. According to Gurman, the company is making progress, but it is still facing a few concerns.
The plan now is to ship the feature alongside a broader Siri infrastructure overhaul in the spring and market it heavily. But there’s some concern inside the company, I’m told. Engineers have been struggling to ensure that the system works with a sufficient number of apps and is accurate enough to handle high-stakes scenarios. There are worries about the software failing in categories where precision is non-negotiable, like in health or banking apps.
The reports have mentioned that Apple ran into engineering challenges during the iOS 18 cycle, and those issues slowed down the progress significantly. These issues were not small setbacks but suggest deeper technical hurdles, which could have caused the delay. These reasons have forced Apple to move carefully, and it may even leave out certain categories, such as health and finance. These delays and limitations could also open the door for competitors to take shots at Apple. Google has already taken advantage of Apple’s Siri feature delay to promote its upcoming Pixel 10 lineup.
Moreover, these Siri App Intents will only be as powerful as the number of apps that integrate with it, which means that if third-party developers refuse to accept the change, Siri’s new abilities may be hard for everyone to notice. However, there are a plethora of features that could change the way we use the iPhone and other devices, so we do have something to be hopeful for. Do you think Apple’s Siri overhaul with App Intents will be a game-changer for Apple and users? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
