Following a period of delays and internal architectural shifts, Apple is reportedly preparing a significant overhaul of its Siri voice assistant, with a new system that could enable users to control third-party applications exclusively through voice commands. This development, which has been in the works for some time, aims to transform the iPhone experience from a touch-centric interface to a voice-first one.
According to recent reports, the new Siri is being built on an enhanced “App Intents” framework, which allows the assistant to perform a range of complex tasks within apps, mirroring a user’s manual interactions. This could include actions such as finding a specific photo, editing it, and sending it to a contact, all with a single spoken instruction. The functionality extends to other app categories, such as commenting on an Instagram post, adding items to a cart in a shopping app, or even logging into services without touching the screen.
Apple is currently conducting extensive testing of this new capability with a selection of popular third-party apps, including Uber, YouTube, Facebook, Amazon, and WhatsApp, among others. The company’s goal is to ensure the system is accurate and reliable, particularly in high-stakes scenarios. However, there are internal discussions about the challenges of ensuring precision, leading the company to potentially limit or exclude certain sensitive categories like banking and health applications at launch.
The revamped Siri, which was originally anticipated to be part of an earlier iOS release, has been pushed back to a projected launch in spring 2026. This delay stems from a decision by the company to abandon a hybrid architectural approach in favor of a complete redesign to achieve what it calls “Apple quality.” This strategy reflects Apple’s historical pattern of entering new technology spaces later than competitors but with a more refined and polished product. CEO Tim Cook has underscored the importance of artificial intelligence to Apple’s future, positioning it as the company’s next major technological breakthrough. The new Siri capabilities are also expected to be a core component of Apple’s upcoming hardware, including a smart display and a tabletop robot.
