When Apple released the iPhone 16 series on Friday, Sept. 20, it came without a major part of the puzzle: Apple Intelligence. The first part of Apple’s take on AI is due to arrive on all iPhone 16 models (plus the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max) next month with the iOS 18.1 update. But a new report says that one key element could be here sooner than was thought.
The virtual assistant Siri is due a major overhaul with Apple Intelligence but previous reports have suggested it won’t arrive until next spring—about six months away. However, it now seems that some part of the smarter Siri could be in an iOS release earlier than predicted, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter.
The first sight of Apple Intelligence, other than for beta testers is “probably shipping to consumers in a few weeks,” with iOS 18.1 expected in mid-October. Then more features including the capability to create bespoke emoji or specific images from text inputs will come in iOS 18.2. “The company is looking to get that release down to zero-bug status in early November so it can ship it by December,” Gurman says.
Then, iOS 18.3 is set to be complete before the end of the year, for rollout in January. This is where things get interesting. Smarter Siri was previously thought to be coming in iOS 18.4, expected in March. But while iOS 18.4 “will include many of the new Siri features,” Gurman says, he qualifies this by adding that “some are in consideration for iOS 18.3, I’m told.”
Which would mean that some of the new Siri, though not all, could be in iPhones in the first few weeks after new year. This makes sense: if Apple is able to announce that some smart Siri features will be arriving just days after the year ends, it could make the iPhone more appealing for holiday gifting.
Much of the excitement about the new iPhones lies in its new Camera Control, better Ceramic Shield front glass protection and longer battery life, but for once the software announcements were just as compelling. If Apple can smarten up Siri sooner rather than later, that increases the appeal.