When Apple unveiled its vision for a smarter Siri, the promise was an ambitious one. But due to multiple delays, we are still hoping for a voice assistant that understands personal context, take actions across apps and genuinely help us get things done
The company spent much of the past year facing criticism after several highly anticipated Siri upgrades failed to arrive on schedule. Meanwhile, rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Google's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude continued adding new capabilities at a rapid pace.
Now, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to showcase a dramatically upgraded Siri at WWDC 2026 — one that looks much more like an AI assistants people are already using every day.
If the leaks are accurate, this could be Apple's biggest Siri update since the assistant debuted in 2011.
1. Siri could finally become a real AI chatbot
One of the biggest reported changes is that Siri may move beyond simple voice commands and become a true conversational AI assistant.
Instead of handling one-off requests, Siri is expected to maintain context across conversations, allowing users to continue discussions without repeatedly restating information. That's a feature ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude users have largely come to expect.
The shift would represent a major change in how Apple users interact with Siri. Rather than acting like a voice-controlled search tool, Siri could begin functioning as an AI companion capable of helping users think through problems, organize information and complete tasks.
2. A dedicated Siri app may be on the way
According to the report, Apple is also developing a standalone Siri experience.
Today, Siri largely exists as an overlay that appears when summoned. A dedicated app would give users a persistent place to interact with the assistant, review previous conversations and potentially access more advanced AI features.
It's a move that would mirror how consumers currently use ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude on mobile devices.
3. Siri may finally understand what's on your screen
Another long-promised feature reportedly arriving is deeper screen awareness. The upgraded Siri could understand what's currently displayed on an iPhone, iPad or Mac screen and take actions based on that information.
For example, if a friend sends a restaurant recommendation in Messages, Siri could potentially make a reservation, add it to your calendar or create a reminder without requiring multiple manual steps.
This type of contextual awareness has been one of the most anticipated Apple Intelligence features since it was first announced.
4. File uploads could make Siri much more useful
The report also suggests Siri may gain support for file attachments and document uploads. This feature would allow users to share PDFs, spreadsheets, presentations and other files directly with the assistant for analysis or assistance.
Similar to what can be done now with ChatGPT or Gemini, this capability has become increasingly important as AI tools evolve beyond simple question-and-answer systems and into productivity assistants.
5. Siri may gain deeper app control
Perhaps the most practical upgrade is Apple's reported push toward more advanced app actions. Rather than simply opening apps or setting timers, Siri could perform multi-step tasks across multiple applications.
This would move Apple's assistant closer to the "agentic" AI experiences being developed across the industry, where assistants can carry out actions on a user's behalf instead of merely providing information.
Bonus: Third-party AI models could play a larger role
Apple has already partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT into parts of Apple Intelligence, but reports suggest deeper third-party AI integrations may be coming.
That could allow users to access specialized AI models for different tasks while remaining inside Apple's ecosystem.
For Apple, this approach may offer a practical way to compete with rapidly evolving AI rivals while continuing to develop its own models behind the scenes.
Tom's Guide will cover it all directly from WWDC 2026
If Apple's reported upgrades arrive at WWDC 2026, Siri could begin closing the gap with its competition. But for now, the biggest challenge facing Apple is convincing users that Siri can finally keep pace with the tools they already use.
For years, Siri has been viewed as a convenient voice assistant but not necessarily a capable AI platform. Meanwhile, ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude have become daily productivity tools for millions of people.
After a year of delays and skepticism, this may be Apple's best opportunity yet to show that Siri's future is bigger than setting timers and checking the weather.
