Apple Siri Gets a Complete AI Overhaul — The New Siri Coming with iOS 26.4

"Finally, a Siri That's Actually Useful"

One of the hottest topics on Reddit's r/apple and r/ios lately is the new AI-powered Siri.

Apple has announced that a completely redesigned AI-based Siri will launch alongside the iOS 26.4 update in March 2026. This isn't just a feature improvement — it's being described as a ground-up rebuild, which is why expectations are high.

The Limitations of the Old Siri

Let's be honest. The existing Siri fell far short of user expectations.

Simple commands like "What's the weather?" or "Set a 10-minute timer" worked fine,
But slightly complex questions or follow-up conversations consistently failed.
With AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude on the scene, Siri's limitations became even more glaring.

On Reddit, the meme that "Siri is the most useless AI" had been going strong for years.

What Makes the New Siri Different?

1. Built on a Large Language Model (LLM)

The new Siri has been completely redesigned using a large language model similar to ChatGPT and Claude. It can now understand context and carry on continuous conversations.

2. Deep In-App Integration

Instead of just opening apps, Siri can now perform tasks directly within apps.

"Send Mom a message on iMessage saying let's meet tomorrow at 7 PM"
"Add milk to my 'Grocery List' in the Notes app"
"Create an album in Photos from my Jeju trip photos last month"

3. On-Device Processing

For privacy protection, many tasks are processed directly on the device without an internet connection. Sensitive data isn't transmitted to servers. (However, complex queries will use the cloud.)

4. Natural Conversation

Siri now understands vague follow-ups like "No, not that one — the other one." Multi-language processing has also become much more natural.

Reddit Reactions: Half Excitement, Half Doubt

The Excited Camp

"Is this finally a Siri we can use like ChatGPT?"
"The app integration feature is truly innovative. It was so annoying having to open apps and search manually every time."
"If it's ChatGPT-level while protecting privacy with on-device processing, that's perfect."

The Skeptical Camp

"Apple has announced AI upgrades how many times now? It's always been disappointing."
"Can't judge until we actually use it. The announcements are always flashy."
"Can it really reach GPT-4 level? Privacy and performance are a tradeoff."

Synergy with M5 MacBook

The new Siri isn't just about iPhone and iPad. Combined with the powerful Neural Engine of the recently launched M5 MacBook Pro, the AI experience on Mac is expected to change dramatically as well.

Apple is a company that optimizes hardware and software together. The combination of M5's AI performance gains and the new Siri is something worth looking forward to.

Release Schedule

iOS 26.4: Expected to launch in March 2026
Supported devices: iPhone 16 series and later (some advanced features require iPhone 16 Pro or later)

While older devices will receive basic improvements, the most enhanced experience will only be available on the latest hardware. As with the past, expecting an identical experience across all devices isn't realistic.

The iOS 26.4 update can be checked via Settings > General > Software Update.