After years of delays, Apple's virtual assistant is getting a ChatGPT-style makeover powered by Google's Gemini technology.
Apple is preparing to reveal a completely overhauled version of Siri at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8, transforming its long-maligned virtual assistant into something that actually resembles a modern AI product. The redesign, arriving as part of iOS 27 and macOS 27, represents the company’s most ambitious attempt yet to close the gap with ChatGPT and other conversational AI tools.
The WWDC 2026 keynote kicks off at 10 a.m. PT, and the Siri overhaul is expected to be a centerpiece of the presentation.
What the new Siri actually looks like #
The most visible change is structural. Apple has been testing a standalone Siri app, reported by Bloomberg as far back as March 2026, that ditches the familiar floating orb in favor of a chat-based interface. Think iMessage bubbles, but for talking to your phone’s AI.
The new design integrates with Dynamic Island, Apple’s pill-shaped notification area at the top of newer iPhones. This gives Siri a persistent, animated presence rather than the full-screen takeover that currently interrupts whatever you’re doing.
Conversations with the redesigned Siri will be searchable, which sounds like a minor feature until you realize the current version forgets everything the moment you dismiss it. Users will also get auto-delete options for their Siri chat history, with choices set to 30 days, one year, or never.
Google’s Gemini is doing the heavy lifting #
The AI brains behind the new Siri aren’t entirely homegrown. Apple is leveraging Google’s Gemini models to power the enhanced capabilities, though the company will likely downplay that partnership in its marketing materials.
Third-party AI extensions are also part of the package. This opens the door for developers to plug their own AI models and services into Siri.
The enhancements fall under the Apple Intelligence umbrella, the AI suite that Apple first introduced at WWDC 2024.
A timeline that keeps slipping #
Apple first signaled its AI-centered ambitions in June 2024 when it unveiled the Apple Intelligence framework. The Siri overhaul was initially expected to arrive earlier in 2026, but those targets were missed. Bloomberg’s reporting has tracked multiple delays, each pushing back the timeline for what was supposed to be Apple’s definitive answer to the AI competition.
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