The leading tech giant, Apple’s most anticipated Siri overhaul, powered by Apple Intelligence, is facing an unexpected and protracted delay. However, the firm revealed a clearer picture of its upcoming update at the 2024 Worldwide Developers Conference.
At the event, the upgraded Siri was boasted as a milestone in voice-assistant evolution. It is expected to bring a more natural conversational style and smooth ChatGPT integration.
The next-generation Siri was expected to feature in the iPhone 16 series. However, Apple recently confirmed that the launch will not happen until 2027, which is a three-year delay that has left users and investors puzzled.
The latest report sheds light on the internal hurdles. It draws from accounts of current and former Apple employees, the investigation suggests that Apple’s rigid commitment to user privacy has inadvertently hampered innovation in AI development. But that’s only part of the story.
Equally troubling, insiders point to a leadership vacuum within Apple’s AI and Machine Learning division. Critics within the company reportedly dubbed the group “AIMLess,” a not-so-subtle jab at its direction under Robby Walker, a key executive who has been described as risk-averse and lacking vision.
This leadership has restrained bold experimentation at a time when rivals like Google and OpenAI are surging ahead.
Legal troubles are now compounding Apple’s challenges. In California, a new lawsuit accuses the company of misleading consumers through advertising that promised features not yet delivered. Plaintiffs claim they would not have bought the iPhone 16 had they known Siri’s AI capabilities were still years away. A similar case was filed in Canada last month.
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