“Unveiling the Challenges: Why Siri’s Development Fell Short and What It Means for Apple’s Future” – 9to5Mac

Apple has decided to push back the launch of its new Siri features for iOS 18. These features—like better personal context, on-screen awareness, and actions within apps—will now be released later than expected, possibly next year. This news raises the question: What happened?

Apple hasn’t specified the reasons for this delay. They confirmed it would take more time than they originally thought. However, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has provided some insights into the issues at hand.

Siri’s Complex Structure

While working on new Siri features, Apple struggled with its existing setup. They didn’t have enough time to create a single system to manage all Siri requests. Instead, they now have two systems: one for old commands, like setting timers or making calls, and another for new, advanced queries.

The current Siri in iOS 18 operates with two different systems. One handles the basic tasks, while the other manages more complex questions. This split creates confusion and slows down development.

Apple hopes to unify these systems by iOS 19. But for iOS 18, it looks like we will have to wait longer for the promised features.

Challenges Within the Team

Development has also faced hurdles. According to Bloomberg, Apple engineers are working hard to fix bugs that popped up during testing. They estimate that these new features won’t be ready until at least next year, possibly with the iOS 19.3 update.

Apple’s software head, Craig Federighi, has raised concerns about how the new features perform. In tests, they haven’t matched up to Apple’s own marketing claims.

Before the delay, Federighi and other leaders voiced worries that the new features did not function as intended during tests.

Moreover, some employees have expressed concerns about the leadership in charge of AI development. They believe that without changes in leadership, Apple could continue to lag behind in the AI race.

Employees wonder if Tim Cook or Apple’s board should intervene to improve AI team leadership and help the company catch up.

Ultimately, Apple now faces significant technical hurdles. Rushing into AI without solid groundwork has added to their troubles. Clearer leadership could potentially help steer the ship in a better direction.

---