Apple, long celebrated for innovation, now faces a critical challenge in the artificial intelligence arena. Despite pioneering Siri in 2011, the tech giant has fallen significantly behind competitors, with internal reports suggesting a fully conversational Siri won't arrive until 2027. Meanwhile, Amazon's Alexa+ and Google's Gemini are already offering deeply integrated, human-like AI experiences.
Let’s try to explore Apple's current AI predicament, examining the limitations of existing Apple Intelligence features, the company's roadmap for Siri improvements, and what these delays mean for everyday users. We'll also look at potential solutions that could give Apple a comeback to AI industry.
Let's get into it.
Apple Falls Behind in the AI Race
Apple, once known for leading technological innovation, now finds itself struggling to keep pace in the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence. Despite being a pioneer with Siri's introduction in 2011, the company has fallen significantly behind competitors like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
The tech giant faces a critical moment as internal reports suggest a truly modernized, conversational version of Siri won't reach consumers until iOS 20 in 2027. This timeline puts Apple approximately five years behind its competitors in the AI assistant space.
Key challenges Apple faces:
Internal data shows extremely low real-world usage of current Apple Intelligence features
Difficulty acquiring enough AI processing chips amid industry-wide shortages
Talent drain as competitors poach key AI specialists
Leadership effectiveness questions within the AI division
While Apple recently unveiled Apple Intelligence with features like writing tools and custom emojis (Genmoji), these additions are viewed as merely "nice-to-have" options rather than revolutionary tools. Even the integration of OpenAI's ChatGPT feels like an afterthought compared to the deeply integrated AI assistants offered by competitors.
The contrast is particularly striking after Amazon's recent Alexa+ announcement, which demonstrated a fully conversational and personalized assistant that knows users' identities, interests, and home environments
The Current State of Apple Intelligence
Apple Intelligence has been rolling out gradually since October with several features now available to users. These include basic writing tools, voicemail transcriptions, custom-generated emojis (Genmoji), and the Image Playground app that creates cartoon versions of photos. Users also get email auto-sorting and enhanced notifications.
These offerings pale in comparison to competitors' AI solutions. While Amazon's Alexa+ and Google's Gemini offer fully conversational experiences that understand user context and preferences, Apple's features feel disconnected and limited in practical usefulness.
Current Siri limitations:
Split functionality between two separate systems
One brain handles basic commands (timers, calls)
Second brain manages more advanced queries
Lack of integration causes disjointed user experience
Unable to maintain natural conversational flow
The current Siri architecture was rushed to market as part of iOS 18, lacking the seamless integration needed for a truly helpful AI assistant. This divided approach makes the system feel fragmented and less capable than competing offerings from Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
The Amazon Alexa+ Wake-Up Call
Amazon's recent Alexa+ announcement serves as a stark reminder of how far behind Apple has fallen in the AI race. Alexa+ stands out by offering a truly conversational experience that feels remarkably human-like in interaction.
What makes Alexa+ particularly impressive is its comprehensive understanding of the user's identity, relationships, interests, and home environment. Unlike Apple's limited AI features, Alexa+ creates a seamless, context-aware experience similar to having a conversation with a knowledgeable friend.
Alexa+ advantages over Apple Intelligence:
Natural conversational abilities versus Apple's fragmented command structure
Deep personalization based on user data and preferences
Contextual awareness of home environment and connected devices
Ability to maintain conversation threads across multiple interactions
More intuitive understanding of user needs and requests
Alexa+ represents the future direction of AI assistants - moving beyond simple command execution toward becoming genuine digital companions that understand context, remember past interactions, and anticipate needs based on learned preferences.
Understanding Apple's Roadmap for Siri
Apple plans to release an upgraded version of Siri in May 2025, approximately 11 months after its initial announcement. This update will improve the current system but won't deliver the complete overhaul that many users are hoping for.
Looking ahead to iOS 19, Apple aims to introduce a new underlying architecture for Siri, internally called "LLM Siri." This significant update will merge the currently separated systems that handle basic commands and advanced queries.
The goal is to create a more unified and capable assistant, with plans to unveil this at the Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2025, though the actual release may not happen until spring 2027.
Why the full Siri upgrade is delayed until 2027:
Technical complications in merging the two existing Siri systems
Difficulty developing conversational abilities while fixing core architecture
Limited AI chip access hampering development speed
Talent retention issues in the competitive AI market
Engineering resources still focused on completing previously announced features
The timeline indicates Apple has fallen significantly behind in the AI assistant race, with a truly modernized, conversational Siri potentially not reaching users until iOS 20 in 2027.
What This Means for Apple Users
For current Apple device owners, the delay in Siri's modernization doesn't create immediate problems, but it does limit access to truly helpful AI features that competitors are already offering.
In the meantime, users will have access to the current set of Apple Intelligence features, including:
Writing tools for emails and messages
Voicemail transcriptions
Custom-generated Genmoji emojis
Image Playground for creating cartoon versions of photos
Email auto-sorting and notification enhancements
Upcoming updates to look forward to:
iOS 18.4 will add new languages for Apple Intelligence
Improvements to Genmoji are coming
Image Playground will get a new sketch style feature
iOS 18.5 should introduce the first version of AI-infused Siri
For average users who primarily use their devices for basic tasks like browsing, messaging, and media consumption, this delay may not significantly impact daily use.
However, those wanting a truly helpful AI assistant that understands context and maintains conversations will find Apple's current offerings disappointing compared to alternatives from Amazon and Google.
Apple's Options Moving Forward
Apple has several potential paths to address its AI challenges and possibly speed up its development timeline.
One promising option is to expand partnerships with external AI companies. While Apple already has a surface-level integration with ChatGPT, it could follow competitors like Samsung, Microsoft, and Amazon by using third-party AI models more deeply within its systems. This approach would allow Apple to offer competitive AI features while continuing to develop its own technology.
Recent changes at Apple:
Veteran software manager Kim Vorrath has been moved to the AI team
Former Google executive John Giannandrea remains in charge
Some employees are questioning whether bigger leadership changes are needed
Internal concerns about resource allocation and development priorities
Apple is also working to address its hardware limitations by ramping up production of its own AI servers and developing new chip solutions. While the company claims its ecosystem integration still provides an advantage, the timeline for a truly conversational Siri could potentially be accelerated through a combination of strategic partnerships, leadership adjustments, and increased investment in AI-specific hardware and talent.
Conclusion
Apple's AI journey highlights a surprising reversal for a company known for innovation. Once a pioneer with Siri in 2011, Apple now finds itself years behind competitors in the AI assistant race, with a fully modernized Siri potentially delayed until 2027.
The contrast between Apple's current offerings and Amazon's impressive Alexa+ reveals just how significant this gap has become. While Apple Intelligence provides some helpful features like writing tools and custom emojis, it lacks the conversational abilities and contextual awareness that define next-generation AI assistants.
For most users, this delay won't dramatically impact daily device usage, but it does represent a missed opportunity as AI increasingly shapes how we interact with technology. Apple's path forward likely involves deeper partnerships with external AI companies, leadership adjustments, and accelerated development of AI-specific hardware.
The coming years will determine whether Apple can regain its innovative edge in this critical technology space
FAQs
1. When will Apple release a fully conversational version of Siri?
According to internal reports, Apple's truly modernized, conversational version of Siri won't reach consumers until iOS 20 in 2027, approximately five years behind competitors. The company faces technical challenges merging its current two-system architecture and developing more advanced AI capabilities.
2. What AI features does Apple Intelligence currently offer?
Apple Intelligence currently includes writing tools, voicemail transcriptions, custom Genmoji emojis, Image Playground for creating cartoon images, email auto-sorting, and notification enhancements. While useful, these features lack the conversational depth and contextual awareness offered by competing AI assistants.
3. How does Amazon's Alexa+ compare to Apple's current AI offerings?
Alexa+ offers natural conversation abilities, deep personalization, contextual awareness of home environments, ongoing conversation threads, and intuitive understanding of user needs. In contrast, Apple's current AI features feel disconnected and limited, with a fragmented command structure rather than true conversational flow.
4. Will Apple partner with other AI companies to improve Siri?
Apple has a surface-level partnership with ChatGPT but could potentially expand collaborations with external AI companies like OpenAI, following competitors wA
