Apple says it is still on track to launch new Siri this year, as promised

Apple Stock Plummets as Siri Delays Shake Investor Confidence — But the Company Vows New AI Features Are Still Coming This Year

In a dramatic turn of events that sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley and Wall Street alike, Apple’s stock took a nosedive today following reports that the tech giant’s highly anticipated Siri overhaul is facing significant internal delays. The news, first reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, revealed that Apple’s ambitious plan to roll out next-generation Siri features—originally slated for iOS 26.4—has been pushed back, with features now expected to arrive in iOS 26.5 or later updates throughout the year.

The revelation struck a nerve with investors, triggering a sharp sell-off that saw Apple’s market value take a substantial hit. In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of artificial intelligence, where timing is everything and competitors are moving at breakneck speed, any hint of delay can send ripples of uncertainty through the market. Apple, once seen as a leader in seamless user experience, now finds itself in a race to catch up with rivals who have already made significant strides in AI-powered voice assistants.

But just as the tech world braced for the worst, Apple moved swiftly to reassure both investors and consumers. In a statement to CNBC’s Steve Kovach, the company confirmed it remains “on track” to launch its new Siri features sometime in 2026—essentially doubling down on the public timeline it has maintained since last year. This reaffirmation comes after Apple first unveiled these groundbreaking Siri capabilities during WWDC 2024, promising users a voice assistant that would be smarter, more intuitive, and deeply integrated into their daily lives.

So, what exactly are these next-gen Siri features that have everyone so excited—and so anxious? According to Apple’s original vision, the updated Siri will boast three major advancements: personal context awareness, allowing Siri to understand and anticipate user needs based on their habits and preferences; rich in-app actions, enabling Siri to perform complex tasks across multiple apps with a single voice command; and on-screen awareness, giving Siri the ability to “see” what’s on your iPhone screen and provide relevant, contextual assistance in real time.

Imagine asking Siri to “find that sushi restaurant Emily mentioned last week” or “book a table for two at the place with the best reviews near me”—and having it execute those requests flawlessly, pulling from your messages, calendar, photos, and the web in seconds. That’s the future Apple has been promising, and it’s a future that now hinges on the successful integration of Google Gemini, the powerful AI model Apple partnered with earlier this year to supercharge Siri’s capabilities.

The partnership with Google marks a significant shift for Apple, which has traditionally relied on its own proprietary technology. By leveraging Gemini’s advanced natural language processing and machine learning, Apple aims to close the gap with competitors like Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, all of which have made headlines with their own AI breakthroughs.

But the Bloomberg report has cast doubt on whether Apple can deliver on its ambitious timeline. Sources close to the project suggest that the original plan to ship these features with iOS 26.4 is now unlikely, with iOS 26.5 or even later updates in 2026 being more realistic targets. For a company that prides itself on polish and precision, any delay—especially in the AI arena—can be seen as a setback.

Looking ahead, Apple’s roadmap becomes even more intriguing. For iOS 27, the company is reportedly planning an even bolder leap: a new Siri chatbot experience powered by the latest and greatest versions of Google Gemini. This next iteration promises to transform Siri from a voice assistant into a true conversational AI, capable of engaging in nuanced, human-like dialogue and tackling complex, multi-step tasks with ease.

However, if Apple is struggling to get the foundational features out the door, questions arise about whether the more advanced iOS 27 ambitions will also face delays. In the high-octane world of artificial intelligence, where breakthroughs happen overnight and user expectations are constantly rising, Apple cannot afford to fall behind for long.

Investor confidence, always a fickle beast, now hangs in the balance. The market is watching closely to see if Apple can deliver on its promises—and do so quickly enough to remain competitive. With rivals like Google, Amazon, and OpenAI all pushing the envelope, the pressure is on for Apple to prove that its Siri reboot will be worth the wait.

For now, all eyes are on Cupertino. Will Apple’s renewed commitment to launching new Siri features in 2026 be enough to restore faith among investors and users alike? Or will further delays force the company to rethink its AI strategy altogether?

One thing is certain: in the race to define the future of voice AI, every month—every week—counts. And for Apple, the clock is ticking.

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