According to Bloomberg, the overhaul is being plagued by engineering problems and software bugs, which could lead to a delayed or watered-down release.
Last June, Apple told its favourite press that there would be three major enhancements to Siri:
- Greater access to a user’s personal data to improve responses and automate actions.
- A new system to give the assistant better control over apps.
- The ability to understand on-screen content to provide contextual responses.
Apple has positioned this as a major leap forward for Siri, promising a seamless experience where users could ask for a file or song mentioned in a text message, or quickly retrieve their driver’s licence number by scanning through stored photos.
However, internal testing suggests these features remain unreliable, with employees finding that the assistant frequently fails to perform as expected.
One of the central upgrades, an improved version of App Intents (which allows Siri to better control apps), is particularly important for Apple’s upcoming smart home hub.
The AI-powered device, intended to manage home automation and facilitate FaceTime calls, is expected to launch later this year. But with Siri’s continued performance issues, questions remain about whether Apple will be able to deliver a functional product on time.
Apple, which has lagged far behind in AI development despite its marketing claims, now struggles to compete in a rapidly evolving space. While the company touts its commitment to innovation, its flagship voice assistant remains flawed, inconsistent, and far from the revolutionary tool it was once promised.
The Tame Apple Press has been saying that the current situation is okay because Amazon is also struggling with its own AI-powered assistant. According to The Washington Post, the planned upgrade to Alexa—promising a more conversational and intelligent experience—has been delayed multiple times.
Originally set for release this month, it has now been pushed back to at least the end of March, more than a year and a half after it was first announced in response to competition from OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
The new version of Alexa is expected to introduce subscriber-only AI features, including personality customisation, memory recall, and expanded capabilities like ordering food and taxis. However, these enhancements appear to be riddled with accuracy issues, with internal sources admitting that Alexa continues to provide incorrect answers. Given the brand’s decade-long reputation, Amazon is reluctant to roll out an unreliable product and risk losing consumer trust.
Still, March is much closer to the vapourware, the new and enhanced Siri.
