Apple Inc.’s head of Siri, Robby Walker, has acknowledged that the virtual assistant’s AI development has faced significant delays, calling the situation both “ugly” and “embarrassing.” In an all-hands meeting, Walker admitted that Apple’s decision to promote Siri’s AI enhancements before they were ready worsened the problem.
Walker, a senior director at Apple, told employees that the AI setbacks had left the team in a tough spot. He also admitted that it remains unclear when the much-anticipated enhancements will actually launch. According to sources familiar with the matter, Apple had initially aimed to roll out these features this spring but has now pushed the timeline to at least next year.
Apple’s AI Struggles
Apple has been facing increasing pressure in the artificial intelligence race, with Siri falling behind competitors like Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa. The company’s AI-related woes became even more evident last week when it publicly confirmed indefinite delays to key AI-driven features.
During the meeting, Walker acknowledged the frustration among employees, saying they may feel “angry, disappointed, burned out, and embarrassed” over the setbacks. However, he praised the team’s efforts and reassured them that Apple is committed to delivering an industry-leading virtual assistant.
Siri’s Feature Delays and Market Reaction
Apple’s struggles with AI have impacted its stock performance. The company’s shares had fallen 16% in early 2025 but showed some recovery after the announcement. As of Friday, Apple’s stock was up 1.4%, trading at $212.58 in New York.
Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Apple’s AI-powered Siri tools were plagued by software bugs and engineering challenges. Initially planned for release in iOS 18.5, the updated Siri AI features are now expected to debut in iOS 19, possibly extending into 2026.
Behind-the-Scenes Issues
Apple first unveiled its AI-powered Siri enhancements at WWDC 2024, positioning them as a major advancement in personal assistant technology. These new features were expected to improve Siri’s ability to interact with apps, access personal data for smarter responses, and analyze on-screen content. However, Bloomberg later revealed that Apple had showcased a barely functioning prototype at WWDC, raising concerns about the rushed announcement.
Walker admitted that Apple’s marketing department had aggressively promoted the features despite their instability. “This was not one of those situations where we get to show people our plan after it’s done,” he said. “We showed people before.”
He also questioned whether even the revised launch timeline for iOS 19 is realistic, stating that Apple has multiple priorities and will need to make trade-offs before finalizing a release date.
Siri’s Future and Apple’s AI Strategy
Apple remains committed to enhancing Siri, with Walker emphasizing that the company is working on making the virtual assistant more reliable. However, he noted that even in its current state, Siri’s AI features only function properly about 67% to 80% of the time—leaving a significant margin for improvement.
Despite the setbacks, Apple is continuing to develop its broader AI initiative, known as Apple Intelligence. Future improvements aim to make Siri more conversational and capable of advanced tasks, with major upgrades planned through 2027.
Walker assured employees that the company remains dedicated to delivering the best virtual assistant on the market. He likened the effort to swimming across the Pacific Ocean, saying, “We swam hundreds of miles—we set a Guinness World Record for swimming distance—but we still didn’t make it to Hawaii.”
What’s Next for Siri?
Apple has already made some strides in improving Siri, including a Type-to-Siri interface in iOS 18 and expanded Apple product knowledge integration. The company is also working to bring Apple Intelligence to new languages and expand its AI capabilities in China through partnerships with Alibaba and Baidu.
While the company isn’t planning immediate leadership changes, internal restructuring could take place to accelerate progress. Walker concluded the meeting with a message of optimism, telling employees that they should be proud of their work despite the delays.
Apple’s next step will be ensuring that when Siri’s AI overhaul does launch, it will meet the high expectations of users worldwide.
