Apple debuts Siri AI at WWDC 2026 after years of delays in the AI race

Apple has officially launched its revamped artificial intelligence assistant, Siri AI, bringing a host of advanced new features to its ecosystem of devices.

The Cupertino, California-based tech giant unveiled a series of AI upgrades to Siri on Monday, including enhanced voice recognition and a dedicated standalone app. The launch marks the culmination of a long-anticipated overhaul that the iPhone maker has been working towards for the past two years.

The newly redesigned assistant was revealed at Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference at its Cupertino headquarters.

What Siri AI can do

The updated assistant is capable of analysing content displayed on a device's screen and possesses what Apple describes as "broad world knowledge," enabling it to search the web for additional information when needed.

Users will also be able to refer back to previous Siri conversations, and the assistant will be able to surface specific pieces of information — such as a friend's address shared in a message — even if that detail was never formally saved to the device, Apple executives confirmed.

"Truly helpful AI must be centered around you and your needs," Apple software chief Craig Federighi said.

"This means integrating AI deep into the products you use every day, grounding it in your personal context and the apps you rely on, and designing it with privacy at every step. This is our vision for Apple Intelligence."

Context and competition

The Siri overhaul has been the centrepiece of this year's developer conference, following the company's initial pledge of a Siri revamp in 2024 that was subsequently set back by a series of delays. Those setbacks left Apple trailing behind rivals in the fast-moving AI landscape.

The company has been working to narrow the gap with competitors such as Microsoft and Alphabet's Google, both of which have moved more swiftly to integrate "agentic" AI software — capable of carrying out complex tasks — into everyday computing.

New voice experience and availability

Apple confirmed that Siri AI features a new voice experience that allows the assistant to sound "a lot more expressive" and more conversational in its interactions with users.

The assistant will also be available on iPads, with Apple confirming it was still tailoring the technology for use on its smartwatch range.

Images and searches conducted through the new Siri AI will be stored within the new standalone app, available across iPhones, iPads, and Macs, and synchronised via Apple's private cloud computing infrastructure.

However, Apple noted that Siri AI will not be available on iPhones or iPads in the European Union at launch, and will not be available in China at all, as the company continues to work through regulatory requirements in those markets.

The upgraded assistant will initially be offered in the English language, with Apple stating that support for additional languages will be added "quickly," though no detailed timeline was provided.