Apple is developing new ‘LLM Siri’ for iOS 19 and macOS 16

Artificial intelligence continues to transform digital assistants, with Apple preparing significant upgrades to Siri that will leverage large language models (LLMs) and enhanced AI capabilities.

Current developments: Apple is actively developing an upgraded version of Siri powered by advanced large language models, while simultaneously rolling out interim improvements through iOS 18.

• The company is currently testing a separate app containing the new LLM-powered Siri functionality
• Recent iOS 18.1 updates have already introduced improvements to Siri’s product knowledge and command handling
• ChatGPT integration is planned for iOS 18.2, scheduled for release in December

Technical specifications: The new LLM Siri represents a significant architectural shift in how Apple’s digital assistant processes and responds to user inputs.

• The system will utilize new Apple AI models to enable more human-like interactions
• Enhanced App Intents integration will allow for more precise control of third-party applications
• The platform will incorporate Apple Intelligence features, including text generation and summarization capabilities

Timeline and implementation: While the new LLM Siri will be announced as part of iOS 19 and macOS 16, its actual release schedule extends beyond the initial software launch.

• Official announcement expected at WWDC 2025 in June
• Full deployment planned for spring 2026
• Interim updates through iOS 18.3 will gradually introduce new capabilities, including improved app actions and personal context understanding

Strategic positioning: Apple’s approach emphasizes privacy while bringing advanced AI capabilities in-house.

• The company aims to match functionality currently offered by ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini
• Privacy benefits are being positioned as a key differentiator from competitors
• The development represents Apple’s push to maintain competitive parity in the AI assistant space

Market implications: The extended timeline between announcement and release suggests Apple is taking a measured approach to ensure reliability and performance while potentially setting new expectations for AI assistant capabilities in the consumer market.