Recently, Apple made the announcement that the anticipated iOS 18 Siri enhancements would be delayed. Features such as personal context, on-screen awareness, and in-app actions are now expected to launch “in the coming year.” Although preliminary indications suggested a delay, this confirmation raises questions about the underlying issues.
Apple has not provided explicit reasons for the delay. The company indicated it needs additional time, yet did not elaborate further. However, insights from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman may shed light on potential reasons for these setbacks.
Ineffective Siri Infrastructure
While Apple was working on new Siri functionalities for iOS 18, they did not manage to unify the backend managing all Siri commands. Consequently, the system operates with two separate frameworks: one for standard commands and another for advanced functions. This fragmentation complicates development, according to Bloomberg:
The current version of Siri in iOS 18 essentially utilizes two different systems: one for basic functions like setting timers and making calls, and another that processes more complex requests. This advanced system can leverage user data and is already designed to handle changes made during mid-command interactions.
To ensure the rollout of Apple Intelligence as part of iOS 18, the company could not integrate the two systems effectively, resulting in a less seamless user experience.
Apple intends to develop a cohesive system for iOS 19. However, this does nothing to alleviate the situation for iOS 18 users who were expecting new features. The phrase “in the coming year” suggests Apple may be waiting for the revamped Siri infrastructure in iOS 19 to introduce these advanced capabilities.
Internal Challenges
Moreover, the development of these new Siri features has reportedly encountered challenges, as one might guess. The report details that Apple engineers are “racing to fix a multitude of bugs” and expect that the features will not be operational until at least next year, potentially in iOS 19.3 or later.
Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, also expressed apprehensions about the features, stating that they may not perform as intended or as advertised during internal testing:
Leading up to the latest postponement, executives, including Craig Federighi, raised significant concerns regarding the features not functioning correctly — or matching the marketing claims — during their personal evaluations, according to sources wishing to remain anonymous.
Lastly, some within Apple have raised doubts about whether the AI teams are receiving adequate leadership, suggesting that without a shift in management, the company could continue to lag behind:
Apple employees are questioning if CEO Tim Cook or the board ought to intervene and reshape the leadership of the AI division. They fear that without significant changes, Apple will persist in trailing behind in this competitive arena.
In summary, Apple is grappling with numerous technical difficulties as it heads into this situation, and perhaps a more cautious approach to the AI frenzy would have been beneficial. Reports of ineffective leadership certainly don’t seem to aid the teams either.
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