A Fully Redesigned Siri Expected to Take Center Stage
According to an analysis by The Information, Apple’s relatively cautious and conservative approach to artificial intelligence often criticized for lagging behind competitors—may begin to show tangible results in 2026. This could coincide with growing skepticism in the market over massive AI spending and the long-awaited launch of a fully redesigned version of Siri.
Unlike rivals such as OpenAI, Google, and Meta, which have poured hundreds of billions of dollars into data centers, AI chips, and large language model (LLM) training, Apple has deliberately avoided aggressive investment at that scale. As a result, the company has frequently been criticized for falling behind in the AI race, particularly with Siri, which many see as less capable and less reliable than competing AI assistants.
However, The Information suggests that market sentiment is beginning to shift. Investors are increasingly questioning whether the enormous sums being spent on AI infrastructure can realistically generate short-term returns. In this context, Apple’s restrained capital expenditure may prove advantageous. The company reportedly holds over USD 130 billion in cash and liquid assets, giving it significant flexibility to acquire AI startups or form strategic partnerships if valuations decline in the future.
Siri’s Major Overhaul in 2026
The most significant milestone in Apple’s AI roadmap is expected in 2026, when the company plans a major overhaul of Siri, likely launching alongside iOS 26.4 in the spring. The new Siri is expected to support more natural conversations and handle complex, multi-step tasks at the system level—capabilities that users have long demanded.
The report also notes that Apple may rely on Google’s Gemini model for certain functions. This reflects an internal belief that large language models may eventually become commoditized, making it inefficient for Apple to develop every component in-house. Instead, the company appears focused on integration, user experience, and system-level intelligence rather than competing purely on raw model size.
Ecosystem Advantage and Leadership Changes
One of Apple’s strongest advantages remains the iPhone and its broader ecosystem. Through software updates and tight integration with on-device chips, Apple can distribute Apple Intelligence features directly across millions of devices something many AI-focused companies struggle to achieve without relying solely on apps or web services. Meanwhile, competitors attempting to build new AI hardware continue to face challenges in manufacturing, scalability, and user adoption.
The report also highlights internal leadership changes tied to this strategic shift. Siri has been moved under the supervision of Mike Rockwell, former head of the Vision Pro project, following years of development delays. At the same time, John Giannandrea, Apple’s head of AI, is expected to retire in the spring of 2026.
Taken together, these developments suggest that 2026 could be a turning point for Apple’s AI ambitions. If AI investment hype cools and the revamped Siri deliver on its promises, Apple’s slow-and-steady strategy may ultimately be viewed as a long-term, forward-looking decision rather than a missed opportunity.
Apple’s cautious AI strategy could begin to pay off in 2026, highlighted by a major Siri redesign and deeper Apple Intelligence integration across its ecosystem.
Source: Macrumors
