Siri may get Chat GPT-like search powers driven by a new Apple team

AppleInsider

Apple has formed a new Answers, Knowledge and Information team of engineers to develop in-house AI services, including a new Siri search experience similar to ChatGPT.

A forthcoming Siri will be better able to leverage built-in services to assist user queries.

In addition to existing Apple staff, the company is now actively recruiting for engineers with search algorithm and engine development, according to Bloomberg.

While the structure of the Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI) team is new, the goal of a revamped Siri has been ongoing: a long-awaited updated version with more contextual understanding, based on a new large language model (LLM) engine.

This has included speculation that it could be in talks with Anthropic or OpenAI. These technologies would presumably be used to bolster the back-end engine of an AI-powered Siri.

The goal is to dissuade users from leveraging rival services, ranging from ChatGPT to traditional text-based search engines like Google. The Siri team has also been previously reported to be considering several options for quickly revamping its search engine.

Earlier reports have intimated that this revamped Siri experience could debut in the first half of 2026. This makeover would also incorporate the previously-planned "app intent" technology, which integrates an app's content and actions into Siri, Spotlight, and other built-in technology.

Apple adding more AI services, engineers

It has been previously suggested that -- in addition to an improved Siri -- Apple could develop a separate app or service called "Knowledge." This proposed app is said to work more like chatbots such as ChatGPT, and function as an always-on service that is activated through routine conversation.

The AKI group is led by senior AI director Robby Walker, reporting to John Giannandrea. Siri development is now headed by Mike Rockwell, Apple's chief of Vision Pro development, so that Giannandrea can focus solely on completing the AI engine before an expected retirement.

This reshuffling of management of the AI division has resulted in some rearrangement and new hires of talent within the division. Apple has dramatically increased spending and recruiting of more talent in an effort to accelerate its AI development goals.

Apple's AI team has been advertising for still more members, saying in ads that its work "fuels intuitive information experiences across some of Apple's most iconic products -- including Siri, Spotlight, Safari, Messages, Lookup, and more."

Rumor Score: Possible

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applepoor

Hopefully this is not just a distraction from or an addition to the disinformation at the iPhone 16 presentation in 2024. Also could be the only "big" new thing next month as we see the usual claims of all new device using last years enclosure, etc. But there will be "new" colors.....

wesley_hilliard

ApplePoor said:

Hopefully this is not just a distraction from or an addition to the disinformation at the iPhone 16 presentation in 2024. Also could be the only "big" new thing next month as we see the usual claims of all new device using last years enclosure, etc. But there will be "new" colors.....

Distraction? Nope, they've been developing this for years. Disinformation? Nope, Apple launched everything it announced, but delayed one product that was operational, but hallucinating more than they like. Last year's enclosure? Nope, we're getting all-new enclosures with camera bars and a new ultra thin model.

i recommend reading AppleInsider to keep up with all the news

mac_dog

ApplePoor said:

Hopefully this is not just a distraction from or an addition to the disinformation at the iPhone 16 presentation in 2024.

Its 2025. Get over it or get an android. 

dv8or

The only way this can possibly work is if there is no delay when using Siri to question something. It’s incredibly slow at the moment… So slow I won’t use it. I would much rather use the chat GTP app or Grok.

charlesn

Wesley_Hilliard said:

ApplePoor said:

Hopefully this is not just a distraction from or an addition to the disinformation at the iPhone 16 presentation in 2024. Also could be the only "big" new thing next month as we see the usual claims of all new device using last years enclosure, etc. But there will be "new" colors.....

Disinformation? Nope, Apple launched everything it announced, but delayed one product that was operational, but hallucinating more than they like. 

Oh, c'mon, Wesley--you know this statement, while technically "true," is also disingenuous. The revamped Siri with contextual awareness was THE marquee feature, BY FAR, of Apple's announced AI efforts at WWDC 2024. I'm pretty sure no one would have cared if it was Image Playground that had been delayed. And as far as "delayed because it was hallucinating more than they'd like" -- yes, that's the official Apple party line, except that kind of fix doesn't push your delivery date out by as much as 21 months! Because all Apple is promising right now is delivery by end of 2026. That was the tricky part of their announcement in March that they anticipated rolling out the new Siri features "within the coming year." Well, since we're in 2025, "the coming year" would be 2026, so it could be anytime within that year. 

edited August 3

mikethemartian

I thought they weren’t interested in a chatbot?

elijahg

Wesley_Hilliard said:

ApplePoor said:

Hopefully this is not just a distraction from or an addition to the disinformation at the iPhone 16 presentation in 2024. Also could be the only "big" new thing next month as we see the usual claims of all new device using last years enclosure, etc. But there will be "new" colors.....

Distraction? Nope, they've been developing this for years. Disinformation? Nope, Apple launched everything it announced, but delayed one product that was operational, but hallucinating more than they like. Last year's enclosure? Nope, we're getting all-new enclosures with camera bars and a new ultra thin model.

i recommend reading AppleInsider to keep up with all the news

By AI’s own articles there is proof that Apple fabricated almost all of the iOS interaction in the WWDC25 demos. Again AI’s own articles say it’s pretty much impossible to get Genmoji to generate emoji like the ones Apple generated in the WWDC demo. Apple was clearly blindsided by ChatGPT’s capabilities, and was absolutely nowhere near getting a LLM ready for release. Otherwise it wouldn’t have been delayed by a year. If it was as close as Apple’s demo showed, it was good enough for users at least in beta form. 

To say otherwise Wesley is just disingenuous, you can actually criticise Apple - it is not heresy; criticism is constructive in the right context and balances articles. Don’t be DED.

elijahg

Hugely ramping spend on AI after the announcement is just more proof that Apple was caught off guard. Pre-iOS 18 AI barely existed anywhere in iOS apart from Photos and the occasional suggestion. 

Cook is a typical numbers guy, he plays it too safe to run Apple. Yes Apple is much bigger than in the Jobs era, so it will naturally be less agile. But what made Apple Apple was that agility, skating to where the puck will be; the non-corporate flat management style that Jobs encouraged, which Cook abandoned virtually on day one. He needs to allow engineers to work on skunkworks projects which then become great products (the iMac for one started as a skunkworks project that Jobs caught wind of). But ultimately imo his time is up, Apple needs someone new, someone more agile. 

blackwhitepanda

So.. When exactly does it happen then? Spring 2026 as Tim Cook said during the Earnings call? 

blackwhitepanda

Wesley_Hilliard said:

ApplePoor said:

Hopefully this is not just a distraction from or an addition to the disinformation at the iPhone 16 presentation in 2024. Also could be the only "big" new thing next month as we see the usual claims of all new device using last years enclosure, etc. But there will be "new" colors.....

Distraction? Nope, they've been developing this for years. Disinformation? Nope, Apple launched everything it announced, but delayed one product that was operational, but hallucinating more than they like. Last year's enclosure? Nope, we're getting all-new enclosures with camera bars and a new ultra thin model.

i recommend reading AppleInsider to keep up with all the news

It has nothing to do with the hallucination why they delay.
It is related to security vulnerability. 

zeus423

I'd just be thrilled if Siri could do the things it used to be able to do, without telling me "mmm hmm" or "on it". Just do it. I'll realize you understood. Play the song I requested instead of telling me the first three times that there was a problem with Apple Music. Quit popping up a Mobile Device Error when I ask Siri to send a message or stop navigation via CarPlay. Siri has gotten less capable the past few years, IMO.

elijahg

zeus423 said:

I'd just be thrilled if Siri could do the things it used to be able to do, without telling me "mmm hmm" or "on it". Just do it. I'll realize you understood. Play the song I requested instead of telling me the first three times that there was a problem with Apple Music. Quit popping up a Mobile Device Error when I ask Siri to send a message or stop navigation via CarPlay. Siri has gotten less capable the past few years, IMO.

It totally has, an announced feature of iOS 17 was on-device Siri “for some requests” and yet seemingly the only on-device actions are stopping and skipping music, almost everything else seems to need an internet connection. Therefore the replies are painfully slow even on 5G/gigabit WiFi. Same for HomePods, they need the associated phone to be on the WiFi for basic requests like adding to reminders, when the HPs have full access to iCloud. 

I’m also sure it never used to be this bad, and it definitely used to defer to wolfram alpha for more intelligence, which it doesn’t seem to anymore. Cook probably decided the licensing cost wasn’t worth it. This mediocrity really isn’t okay, it reduces the value and user experience, and it’s not Apple to be mediocre. They need to improve, and I don’t think Cook is the one to drive that. 

blastdoor

Wesley_Hilliard said:

ApplePoor said:

Hopefully this is not just a distraction from or an addition to the disinformation at the iPhone 16 presentation in 2024. Also could be the only "big" new thing next month as we see the usual claims of all new device using last years enclosure, etc. But there will be "new" colors.....

Distraction? Nope, they've been developing this for years. Disinformation? Nope, Apple launched everything it announced, but delayed one product that was operational, but hallucinating more than they like. Last year's enclosure? Nope, we're getting all-new enclosures with camera bars and a new ultra thin model.

i recommend reading AppleInsider to keep up with all the news

Has Swift Assist been released?

applezulu

elijahg said:

Hugely ramping spend on AI after the announcement is just more proof that Apple was caught off guard. Pre-iOS 18 AI barely existed anywhere in iOS apart from Photos and the occasional suggestion. 

Cook is a typical numbers guy, he plays it too safe to run Apple. Yes Apple is much bigger than in the Jobs era, so it will naturally be less agile. But what made Apple Apple was that agility, skating to where the puck will be; the non-corporate flat management style that Jobs encouraged, which Cook abandoned virtually on day one. He needs to allow engineers to work on skunkworks projects which then become great products (the iMac for one started as a skunkworks project that Jobs caught wind of). But ultimately imo his time is up, Apple needs someone new, someone more agile. 

Your critique is built on the presumption that the LLM AI put out there by others isn’t overhyped hot garbage. The brawl on one side of the rink is getting all the attention, but it isn’t where the puck will be. 

macxpress

This completely contradicts what they said at WWDC where they made it very clear that Apple Intelligence is NOT a chat bot and there were no plans to ever make it one. 

wesley_hilliard

charlesn said:

Wesley_Hilliard said:

ApplePoor said:

Hopefully this is not just a distraction from or an addition to the disinformation at the iPhone 16 presentation in 2024. Also could be the only "big" new thing next month as we see the usual claims of all new device using last years enclosure, etc. But there will be "new" colors.....

Disinformation? Nope, Apple launched everything it announced, but delayed one product that was operational, but hallucinating more than they like. 

Oh, c'mon, Wesley--you know this statement, while technically "true," is also disingenuous. The revamped Siri with contextual awareness was THE marquee feature, BY FAR, of Apple's announced AI efforts at WWDC 2024. I'm pretty sure no one would have cared if it was Image Playground that had been delayed. And as far as "delayed because it was hallucinating more than they'd like" -- yes, that's the official Apple party line, except that kind of fix doesn't push your delivery date out by as much as 21 months! Because all Apple is promising right now is delivery by end of 2026. That was the tricky part of their announcement in March that they anticipated rolling out the new Siri features "within the coming year." Well, since we're in 2025, "the coming year" would be 2026, so it could be anytime within that year. 

I wrote the Genmoji article, thanks. You must not read me very often because I'm capable of being critical of Apple, so I'm not sure why you'd say that. Did people actually think a pre-recorded ad showed a live feature running? While it was running internally, there's no doubt that Apple stitched the video together and added the displays in post editing like any other advertisement on earth. No one ever claimed that was a live demo. The point is it was operational, but not to Apple's standards. Why is it taking an additional year? Apple said it themselves, they tried a hybrid system before, and are rethinking it as a total LLM rewrite. 

Why are we so upset? I prefer things shipping when they work, thanks. Cook said early 2026 on the earnings call, so that's likely to be met.