Tim Cook admits AI-powered Siri is facing major delays

In an era where AI integration seems to be moving at lightning speed, Apple is hitting the brakes—at least when it comes to Siri. What was once promised as a sleek, intelligent leap forward now feels more like a quiet shuffle. During a recent earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook addressed the elephant in the room: Siri’s long-awaited AI overhaul is, quite simply, taking longer than expected.

Apple’s AI assistant upgrade is falling behind

If you’ve ever tried to ask Siri something slightly off-script—say, “Can you summarize this article?” or “Book me a train to Paris next Friday at noon”—you know its limits. Apple had announced plans to turbocharge Siri with advanced AI features, making it smarter, more contextual, and finally able to rival assistants powered by generative models like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. That upgrade was initially expected to start rolling out this year.

But during the company’s quarterly call, Cook openly admitted that things aren’t going according to plan. “We need a little more time,” he said, explaining that the goal is to ensure these new features meet Apple’s high standards for quality. It wasn’t a bombshell moment, but more of a quiet confirmation of what many industry insiders suspected: Apple is behind the curve.

A temporary fix and mounting pressure

While Apple continues to work behind the scenes, it has offered a temporary workaround. The upcoming versions of iOS and macOS are expected to include ChatGPT integration, allowing users to tap into AI-powered tools even before Siri catches up. It’s a clever stopgap—especially given the growing demand for AI assistance—but it’s also a clear signal that Apple is leaning on external tech while it sorts out its own.

In the meantime, the pressure is building. A class-action lawsuit is already taking aim at Apple, accusing the company of misleading marketing by promising capabilities that haven’t yet materialized. And with competitors like Microsoft and Google racing ahead with their own AI ecosystems, Apple’s traditional “wait until it’s perfect” strategy is starting to look risky.

What’s actually coming with AI-powered Siri?

While Cook didn’t offer a new launch window, insiders previously hinted at a rollout by late 2025. That may now be optimistic. When the features do arrive, we can expect a more personalized, device-integrated assistant—one that can interact directly with apps, adjust settings on command, and handle more nuanced voice queries.

For now, users will have to make do with modest improvements and external integrations. Personally, as someone who’s relied on Siri mostly to set kitchen timers and remind me to take out the trash, I’m eager to see what Apple can really do when it pushes the envelope. But after years of promises, it’s fair to say that the company has set expectations sky-high.

In typical Apple fashion, the company is staying tight-lipped about the specifics. But one thing is clear: in the race for AI dominance, Apple is no longer leading—it’s playing catch-up. Whether the final product will be worth the wait remains to be seen.