TL;DR
Apple’s long-promised overhaul of Siri, built on a large language model, is expected to ship with iOS 26.4 in March 2026, according to reporting and code leaks. The upgrade is likely to bring App Intents for hands-free use, personal context awareness and onscreen awareness, though exact timing will depend on the beta schedule.
What happened
Reporting and code-level leaks indicate that Apple’s major Siri overhaul will arrive with iOS 26.4, which historically lands in March. iOS 26.3 is currently in beta testing, and the timing of the iOS 26.4 public release appears tied to when Apple issues the first beta: prior x.4 releases received their first betas either in late January or mid-February, which mapped to early- or late-March public launches. The planned update replaces Siri’s older architecture with an LLM-based system intended to make the assistant behave more like contemporary chatbots. That shift is expected to enable previously delayed features including App Intents for hands-free computing, personal context knowledge and on-screen awareness. While the March window is the working expectation, the exact release date will depend on Apple’s beta cadence and any final adjustments before public rollout.
Why it matters
- An LLM-based Siri could offer more conversational, context-aware assistance than the current system.
- App Intents and on-screen awareness may change how users interact with apps via voice, expanding hands-free workflows.
- The overhaul addresses a long-delayed set of upgrades, so user expectations and developer plans may shift once the features arrive.
- Timing hinges on Apple’s beta schedule, so the public rollout could move earlier or later depending on testing progress.
Key facts
- iOS 26.4 is widely reported as the update that will deliver the new Siri.
- Historical iOS x.4 releases landed in March: iOS 18.4 (March 31), iOS 17.4 (March 5), iOS 16.4 (March 27).
- iOS 26.3 is in beta testing at the time of reporting.
- The release timing is expected in March, likely late March if the beta schedule follows past patterns.
- The update’s timing has been corroborated by Bloomberg reporting and iOS code leaks.
- Siri’s underlying architecture will be replaced with an LLM-based system.
- New capabilities expected include App Intents for hands-free computing, personal context knowledge and on-screen awareness.
- Some of these features were originally planned for iOS 18 but were delayed.
What to watch next
- When Apple seeds iOS 26.4 beta 1 (January beta could allow an early-March release; a mid-February beta would likely push public release to late March).
- Exact public release date for iOS 26.4 — not confirmed in the source.
- Which iPhone and iPad models will support the LLM-based Siri — not confirmed in the source.
Quick glossary
- iOS: Apple's mobile operating system for iPhone that receives periodic feature and security updates.
- Large language model (LLM): A type of AI trained on extensive text data to generate or interpret language and power conversational features.
- App Intents: A framework that lets voice assistants and other system features interact with app functionality to perform tasks.
- Beta: Pre-release software distributed for testing and feedback before a public launch.
- On-screen awareness: A capability that allows an assistant to use context from what’s displayed on the screen to inform responses or actions.
Reader FAQ
When will the new Siri be released?
The update is expected with iOS 26.4 in March 2026, likely late March if historical patterns hold; exact date is not confirmed in the source.
What new features will Siri get?
The LLM-based Siri is expected to bring App Intents for hands-free computing, personal context knowledge and on-screen awareness, per the report.
Will the new Siri behave like ChatGPT or Gemini?
The report says the LLM-based Siri should be able to assist users in a manner similar to chatbots such as ChatGPT and Gemini.
Has Apple officially confirmed the release timing?
Not confirmed in the source; the timing is reported by Bloomberg and supported by code leaks.
Apple Card shake-up may finally happen this year: Here’s the latest Michael Burkhardt Jan 3 2026 AD SIRI IOS 26 IOS 26.4 New Siri is coming this year: Here’s the…
Sources
- New Siri is coming this year: Here’s the expected release date
- Everything Apple Is Releasing in 2026: iPhone Fold, LLM …
- Apple Reportedly Planning AI-Enhanced Siri With Search …
- Apple Targets Spring 2026 for Release of Delayed Siri AI …
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