New Siri Upgrades Coming in iOS 26.1 Ahead of 2026 Overhaul

Apple is working on the biggest Siri overhaul in years, but you won’t need to wait until 2026 to see progress. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is preparing smaller Siri upgrades for iOS 26.1 and iOS 26.2 that could make the assistant more useful in daily apps like TV, Music, and Fitness. These early updates are Apple’s way of keeping Siri relevant while laying the groundwork for its full AI-powered transformation.

What to Expect In iOS 26.1

The highlight of iOS 26.1 will be improved Siri control for services apps. While Apple hasn’t detailed which apps will get support first, the TV app is the strongest candidate, with Music and Fitness also likely to benefit. Users may soon be able to ask Siri for more precise playback controls like jumping to specific episodes, skipping intros, or moving to a timestamp. Smarter context handling could also allow follow-up commands without having to repeat app names, creating a more natural experience.

These upgrades are expected to land alongside expanded Apple Intelligence support in China, another step in Apple’s global rollout of its AI platform. The timing also aligns with rumors of a new Apple TV 4K model coming in October, which is said to include Apple Intelligence integration. Adding better Siri controls in the TV app would give Apple a practical way to showcase these improvements without revealing the full Siri overhaul too early.

A Step Toward The Big Overhaul

Apple confirmed at WWDC that Apple Intelligence will power a deeply reimagined Siri, combining on-device processing with large language models to make the assistant far smarter. That full experience is still set for early 2026, but Apple is clearly taking a gradual rollout approach. By releasing smaller, targeted Siri features now, it can improve user experience, test real-world performance, and keep attention on Siri as the AI race heats up.

When the Beta Arrives

iOS 26 launched for all users on September 15, and history suggests the first iOS 26.1 beta could be released within days. In past years, Apple has shipped .1 betas anywhere from one day to nine days after a major iOS release. This means testers may see iOS 26.1 beta 1 as early as this week, or early next week at the latest. For those not ready to deal with beta bugs, it’s best to keep the “Beta Updates” option disabled in Settings.

These iOS 26.1 upgrades may not deliver the complete AI-driven Siri Apple teased, but they are important stepping stones. By improving how Siri works in the apps people use daily and expanding Apple Intelligence into new markets, Apple is setting the stage for its 2026 Siri relaunch. Think of it as getting small, meaningful upgrades now while waiting for the real transformation that’s just around the corner.