Apple Delays Gemini-Powered Siri Features Beyond iOS 26.4, Rollout May Extend to iOS 27

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Apple is pushing back key upgrades to Siri that rely on Google’s Gemini AI models, with some features now likely arriving later than initially planned, as reported by Mark Gurman to Bloomberg.

The company had been targeting iOS 26.4, expected in March, as the first major release to include the new Siri capabilities. Instead, Apple is now spreading those features across future updates, potentially delaying parts of the rollout until iOS 26.5 in May and even iOS 27 this fall.

Personal Data Access Feature Now Likely to Slip Past iOS 26.4

One of the most significant enhancements facing delays is Siri’s expanded ability to tap into personal data. Apple previewed this functionality in 2024 as part of a broader Siri overhaul.

The feature is designed to let users ask Siri to retrieve context from across their apps and communications. For example, a user could ask Siri to find the movie ticket a friend sent last week, and it would surface it automatically. That deeper integration requires the assistant to understand and securely process on-device personal data.

That capability is now among the features most likely to miss the iOS 26.4 window.

Voice-Based In-App Control Also Running Behind Schedule

Another delayed feature is voice-based control of in-app actions. Apple demonstrated this as part of its next-generation Siri vision, positioning the assistant as a more capable system-level controller that can perform complex tasks inside third-party apps.

Both the personal data access and in-app voice control features are still expected to ship as part of iOS 26. However, their arrival may be staggered across 26.5 and subsequent updates rather than appearing all at once.

Apple released iOS 26.3 this week, focused primarily on bug fixes and security improvements, with no visible signs yet of the Gemini-powered Siri overhaul.

Gemini Partnership Finalized in January

Apple formally reached an agreement with Google to use Gemini models in January. Before finalizing that deal, the company evaluated internal AI models as well as alternatives from Anthropic. This option to rely on third-party AI Models started way before Nov of last year.

The more capable Siri was first announced in June 2024 as part of the iOS 18 roadmap. Apple later delayed that upgrade, stating it would arrive sometime in 2026.

Looking ahead, Apple is expected to evolve Siri further in iOS 27, treating it more like a conversational chatbot rather than a traditional voice assistant.

The staggered rollout underscores the complexity of integrating large language models into core operating system features. While Apple has not committed to a specific ship date beyond “this year,” the timeline now appears more incremental than originally anticipated.

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