- A new report says Apple is working on an AI-powered Siri chatbot
- This could come with new features that its rivals can’t match.
- I’m excited about what it could mean for Apple devices.
After what seems like an eternity of denials, it finally appears that Apple has bowed to pressure and plans to launch its own Siri-branded chatbot to compete with ChatGPT and Google Gemini. And as a long-time Apple user, I have to admit I’m pretty excited about it.
These days, I spend more and more time turning to ChatGPT instead of Google Search whenever I have a question. I haven’t abandoned Google completely, but the back-and-forth nature of a chatbot (where I can refine my question, ask for follow-up information, and get specific answers) is particularly helpful when I have a specific problem that Google simply can’t solve.
That’s exactly the kind of help I’ve long felt was missing from Apple’s own suite of apps and operating systems. Sure, the Spotlight search tool became more powerful in macOS 26 and Apple has started incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) into its operating systems, but it’s no secret that Siri is far behind its AI rivals in this area.
However, far from simply catching up to the rest of the market, it appears that the Siri chatbot could have some significant advantages over its competitors, as Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported. The journalist says that “unlike third-party chatbots that run on Apple devices, the planned offering is designed to analyze open windows and on-screen content to take actions and suggest commands. You will also be able to control the device’s features and settings, allowing you to make phone calls, set timers and launch the camera.”
These are the features that were touted at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024. Combined with Siri’s upcoming chatbot functionality, they could transform Apple’s virtual assistant into an all-in-one helper that offers a feature set that even its strongest rivals can’t match.
There’s a lot to look forward to, but if Apple can even come close, we could soon see a significant shakeup in the AI market.
Reasons to have hope
Interestingly, rumors suggest that Apple will take a similar approach with the Siri chatbot. Instead of a standalone app like ChatGPT, Gemini and other chatbots, Apple “will integrate the software into all of its operating systems, like today’s Siri,” Gurman says.
This seems like the right approach to me. Given how much power it could have, I want the Siri chatbot to be available in whatever app I’m using. Having it as a separate app runs the risk of disrupting your flow and interrupting your work. Mixing it with existing apps could be a much more natural way to interact with AI.
And let’s not forget all the updates we were promised in 2024, which I mentioned above, including the ability to understand your personal context and work within and between applications. With these two major revamps scheduled for 2026, this could be the biggest year in Siri’s history and could finally help Apple catch up in the world of high-stakes AI.
However, Apple’s radical change comes with risks. For one thing, Gurman reports that Apple might have to rely on Google servers to be able to quickly expand Siri’s capabilities. Since much of Google’s business model focuses on advertising and data collection, user interactions with a chatbot would be a tempting target for the company.
However, I am confident that Apple will be able to ensure that your information is protected and separated from any type of data collection, just as it did when it announced a “multi-year collaboration” to power Siri using Google Gemini models. If Apple is able to power Siri while protecting user privacy, that’s a win-win situation.
All of that means that 2026 is shaping up to be a watershed year for Siri. Based on what we’ve heard so far (and Apple’s willingness to change course and launch a Siri chatbot), I’m optimistic for the future.
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