Apple is still planning to roll out its revamped version of Siri around March of next year. The release should be accompanied by the release of a new smart home display product with speaker-base and wall-mount options. A new Apple TV and HomePod mini, which are set for launch soon, will also "help showcase" next year's new Siri and Apple Intelligence features.
The new version of Siri will apparently "lean" on Google's Gemini and include an AI-powered web search feature. Gurman warned "there's no guarantee users will embrace it, that it will work seamlessly or that it can undo years of damage to the Siri brand."
Apple is said to be paying Google to create a custom Gemini-based model that can run on its Private Cloud Compute servers to power Siri. Gurman clarified that this doesn't mean Siri will include Google services or Gemini features. Instead, Siri will simply be powered by a Gemini model in the background, enabling it to deliver the features that users expect with an Apple user interface.
Apple will preview iOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS 27 and other operating systems at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The updates will apparently focus on major updates to Apple Intelligence and the company's broader AI strategy.
The company is also apparently still running into problems with the launch of Apple Intelligence in China. Despite partnerships with Chinese companies, Apple Intelligence in China is still mired by regulatory issues and the launch is now a "rolling target."
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld.
The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld.
Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026.
"I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...
Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by Juli Clover
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do.
The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up.
Upgraded Architecture
The next-generation...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
The new version of Siri will apparently "lean" on Google's Gemini and include an AI-powered web search feature. Gurman warned "there's no guarantee users will embrace it, that it will work seamlessly or that it can undo years of damage to the Siri brand."
There certainly is not any guarantee! Some of us will actively avoid it, in fact.
Whatever fits this description is what Tim Cook will do.
He doesn't care, at all, if the products are good to great if it were to conflict with counting the most beans.
In Tim Apple's world a great product is defined by what's great for short term shareholder value
To have insight into when you can give the middle finger to short term bean counters and know what and where the market will be is something that I believe Jobs had a handle on like no other person and is a gap that Apple will eventually face consequences from (I mean over a very long term as the post-smartphone personal computing market evolves)
They should've just paired with an AI company early on, announced the new Siri (without a release date), and called it a day. Google, OpenAI, whatever. Just SOMETHING. Stringing us along and making false promises killed a lot of trust and respect for some people (I know a few) and it's hard to defend (if at all).
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cupertino, California — Apple PR Department (still pretending this was the plan all along)
[HR][/HR] [HEADING=2]Siri Gets a “Boost” From Google Gemini — What Could Possibly Go Wrong?[/HEADING] Apple today proudly announced that Siri—the world’s most polite reminder to use your thumbs—is now teaming up with Google’s Gemini. Yes, that Gemini. The one made by the same company that still can’t decide if “Chat” and “Meet” are separate apps.
This bold new collaboration will make Siri “smarter, more conversational, and slightly more existentially confused.” When you ask Siri a tough question—like “What’s the best Italian restaurant near me?” or “Why did Apple do this?”—she’ll politely hand it off to Gemini, who will answer with confidence, ads, and probably a paragraph about AI ethics.
[HR][/HR] [HEADING=2]The Future of Intelligence (Please Don’t Ask Who’s in Charge)[/HEADING] With Gemini’s help, Siri can now provide “more dynamic and informative responses,” meaning she’ll finally say more than “Here’s what I found on the web.” Instead, she’ll say:
“One moment, I’ll ask my friend from Mountain View.”
We call it collaboration. You might call it outsourcing cognition.
[HR][/HR] [HEADING=2]Privacy: Still Our Favorite Buzzword[/HEADING] Apple remains fully committed to privacy. That’s why Siri will only share your data with Gemini after asking permission—using a pop-up that’s four paragraphs long and looks legally binding.
Craig Federighi reassured users:
“We’re not sharing your data. We’re just letting another trillion-dollar company borrow it briefly for computational enlightenment.”
[HR][/HR] [HEADING=2]Coming This Fall with Apple Intelligence[/HEADING] The new Siri powered by Gemini will launch this fall, right alongside your growing suspicion that AI assistants are all merging into one big, slightly smug cloud.
Early testers say Siri now feels “shockingly competent,” “slightly Google-y,” and “like she just got a Stanford degree she didn’t pay for.”
