Introduction
Siri AI refers to Apple's planned AI-powered search capability for Siri, which aims to deliver web-based summaries enriched with text, images and videos.
Quick definition: Siri AI is a system combining web search, summarization and multimedia results to answer voice or text queries succinctly.
Context
Apple is developing an AI search feature for Siri that would generate concise answers from web results. Bloomberg reports Google is the leading partner to help Apple revamp the assistant, possibly providing a Gemini-based model for summaries that could run on Apple servers. Internally the feature is called "World Knowledge Answers" and is designed to present text, photos, videos and points of interest.
The Challenge
Key challenges include preserving user privacy while enabling access to personal data and on-screen content, reducing dependence on third-party models, and ensuring summary quality. Integrating external models increases technical complexity and regulatory considerations.
Solution / Approach
Apple's approach uses three components: a planner to interpret prompts, a search system to scan user or web data, and a summarizer to package results. Apple plans to use its own models for searching user data but is evaluating Anthropic's Claude and Google's Gemini for planning or summarization tasks.
Practical summary
World Knowledge Answers combines web results and AI-generated summaries to create richer, multimedia responses within Siri.
Timing and current status
Bloomberg notes a formal agreement between Apple and Google to test a Google-designed model for Siri summaries. Although Apple will unveil the iPhone 17 lineup soon, the Siri AI upgrade is expected with iOS 26.4, as early as next March.
Conclusion
Siri AI could significantly change iPhone search, but its rollout depends on privacy safeguards, model selection and how Apple balances in-house models with third-party technology.
FAQ
Short answers to common questions about Siri AI and the new search feature
- What is Siri AI? Siri AI is Apple's planned feature that merges web search and AI-generated summaries to answer queries via Siri.
- Will Apple use Google for Siri AI? Bloomberg reports Apple has a formal agreement to test a Google model for summaries, indicating collaboration at the testing stage
- When will Siri AI arrive? The AI upgrade for Siri is expected with iOS 26.4, potentially next March
- How does Siri AI affect privacy? Apple intends to run its own models for user-data search, but external models for planning or summaries require careful privacy controls