Apple needs a killer AI Siri to fuel upgrades from older iPhones

Apple long ago missed its deadline for launching an AI-supercharged Siri, but the company now says it’s finally on track to deliver the upgrade in 2026.
The stakes couldn’t be higher.
This year’s delay has intensified pressure on Apple to deliver a truly breakthrough AI experience on the iPhone. Another miss would reinforce perceptions that Apple is falling far behind rivals in artificial intelligence — and risk ceding control of the next major computing platform to competitors like Google or OpenAI.
A hit LLM Siri, however, could spark an avalanche of upgrades from millions holding onto older iPhones.
Steve Kovach for CNBC:
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Apple has to solve its AI problem.
Following an exodus of top execs, including AI boss John Giannandrea, Apple said it has the team in place to deliver the Siri upgrade in 2026, which could come as much as 21 months after the original announcement.
Apple needs that new Siri to be good. Not just good enough to match the capabilities of popular AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini, but also good enough to convince folks with older iPhones to upgrade to a new device so they can use it.
Users need an iPhone 15 Pro, or better, to use Apple Intelligence.
For investors, it’s their best bet to see a boom in Apple shares from AI.
Unlike the $20 per month OpenAI charges to use the full version of ChatGPT, Apple doesn’t charge for Apple Intelligence. Unless Apple changes its strategy and starts charging a subscription, its only hope is to leverage AI to move new iPhones, Macs, and iPads.

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MacDailyNews Take: A useful LLM Siri also will underpin Apple’s push into smart home hubs and accessories and, importantly, smart glasses, too.

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