Siri to Get Google-Like AI Search Results in 2026

Apple is preparing to roll out an AI-driven web search capability for Siri in 2026, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The update would shift Siri from a voice assistant into more of an “answer engine,” offering summarized responses to user questions in a style that echoes Google’s AI Overview results and ChatGPT’s conversational answers.

World Knowledge Answers

The initiative, known internally as “World Knowledge Answers,” will debut first inside Siri. Apple is also weighing whether to extend the feature into Spotlight and Safari, and has reportedly floated the idea of a dedicated chatbot-style app focused solely on search.

Unlike the current system that pushes users toward a page of links, the revamped Siri interface is expected to surface AI-generated summaries. It would handle multiple forms of input, from text and images to video clips and nearby points of interest. That marks a significant shift in how iPhone owners might retrieve information.

Siri’s New AI Foundation

Originally, Apple aimed to launch the upgraded Siri alongside iOS 18, but internal hurdles with its first AI architecture forced the company to delay. Engineers ended up rebuilding Siri on top of large language models, a move executives now describe as essential for scaling the assistant’s intelligence.

Apple’s software head Craig Federighi said in August that this rebuilt foundation will allow the company to deliver a broader leap forward than what was initially on the roadmap. How much of that materializes in day-to-day use remains to be seen.

Tapping Google Gemini

In a surprise twist, Apple has reportedly partnered with Google to test a customized Gemini AI model for Siri’s summarization engine. The company is also running evaluations of Anthropic’s models alongside its own in-house LLMs, which are being tested for planning and decision-making features.

While such cross-company testing is unusual, it highlights how difficult it may be for Apple to deliver competitive generative AI tools without outside help.

Privacy Handling

Apple plans to keep privacy central to the experience. The company says its proprietary Foundation Models will manage any query involving sensitive personal data, including emails and messages. That processing would remain on-device, reducing the likelihood of personal information being exposed to external servers.

Timeline and Future Changes

After several indefinite delays, Apple is now targeting March 2026 for the public release, which is expected to ship with iOS 26.4. Alongside World Knowledge Answers, Siri should gain more personalized responses, tighter interaction with on-screen content, and broader integration with third-party apps.

Later in 2026, Siri will also receive a visual redesign. Apple is preparing to bundle in new health-related features as well, with plans for a subscription-based wellness service built on top of Siri’s capabilities.

If Apple delivers on these plans, Siri could evolve into something closer to an AI search assistant than the voice helper most users know today. But given the delays and reliance on outside AI models, it’s worth questioning whether the rollout will be as seamless as Apple hopes.

Would a smarter Siri change the way you search on your iPhone, or do you still prefer traditional results? Share your take below.