Updated Siri in iOS 26.4 will be revealed in the coming weeks

Apple is preparing to show off a redesigned version of Siri in the coming weeks. The first changes are expected in the beta version of iOS 26.4, which is set to launch in late January, with a full system release scheduled for March. The update should be the first step toward making Siri a smarter, more contextual assistant capable of working with a user’s personal data and apps.

Siri is expected to be the first step toward making Siri a smarter, more contextual assistant capable of working with a user’s personal data and apps.

What Apple promised early

Expectations around a new Siri formed back in the fall of 2024, when Apple first showed off the personalized assistant’s capabilities. At that time, it showed how Siri could find specific information by analyzing emails, messages, and calendar entries to provide an accurate answer to a complex query related to past events.

Siri’s ability to find specific information by analyzing emails, messages, and calendar entries was shown.

To perform such tasks, the assistant needs to look at data from different apps, match it against each other, and deliver a context-aware result. But last March, Apple delayed the launch of the updated Siri indefinitely, causing frustration among iPhone users.

What will change in iOS 26.4

With the release of iOS 26.4, Apple will likely begin a phased rollout of the new Siri. As early as the first beta of the system, elements of the assistant’s updated behavior could appear. One of the key innovations will be to understand what is happening on the iPhone screen. This will allow Siri to perform actions without having to describe each step in detail.

For example, if an address is displayed on the screen, the user will be able to simply ask to add it to a contact card. The assistant doesn’t have to explain where to get the data from or where to save it – the context is automatically clear.

Siri will be able to perform actions without having to describe each step in detail.

Working with personal data and apps

The updated Siri will be able to perform more complex tasks between different apps. Examples include finding specific photos and sending them to the right person, as well as answering questions about trips, appointments, and other events if information about them is contained in emails, messages, or your calendar.

Siri will be able to search for specific photos and send them to the right person, as well as answer questions about trips, appointments, and other events if information about them is contained in emails, messages, or your calendar.

It’s emphasized that the assistant won’t be able to “guess” data that isn’t in the system. If the user has never discussed the information in correspondence or mail, Siri won’t be able to give you an answer based on a guess.

Transition to a language model

iOS 26.4 will also be the beginning of Siri’s transition to a large language model architecture. Instead of simple answers with links, the assistant will get a mechanism for generating generalized answers to general questions. This approach is already used by today’s AI assistants to provide more detailed and meaningful explanations.

Siri is expected to better understand natural speech, take into account the context of a query, execute more complex commands, and answer questions with more depth than before. But Apple isn’t promising an immediate leap to the top AI platforms – the upgrade is seen as the first step in a long process.

Siri is expected to become better at understanding natural speech, contextualizing queries, performing more complex commands, and answering questions with more depth.

When to wait and what to expect

The iOS 26.4 lineup is due out in March, but users of the beta testing program will be able to see some of the changes sooner. Apple still has time to optimize the assistant and improve the quality of responses before the final release.

At the same time, Apple will be able to make some of the changes in the beta program before the final release.

For many users, iOS 26.4 will be a kind of “advance of confidence” from Apple. The company needs to show it can take Siri to the next level and close the gap with today’s AI assistants, even if the full transformation will take a few more updates.