Apple officially confirmed Siri is getting a major AI upgrade powered by Google Gemini, arriving in two phases starting February 2026. iPhone users will experience dramatically improved intelligence, conversation capabilities, and cross-app integration within months.

 

When Is the New Siri Coming Out?

The new Siri powered by Google Gemini launches in two phases. Phase 1 arrives with iOS 26.4 beta in mid-February 2026, with public release expected in March-April 2026. Phase 2 delivers full conversational AI capabilities with iOS 27 in September 2026. iPhone 15 Pro and newer devices, plus M1+ iPads and Macs, receive priority access.

 

Siri Upgrade Release Schedule: Complete Timeline

Apple has confirmed a two-phase rollout for the Google Gemini-powered Siri upgrade. Here's the detailed timeline:

 

Date	Milestone	iOS Version	Access
Mid-Feb 2026	Beta testing begins	iOS 26.4 beta	Developers + Beta program members
March-April 2026	Phase 1 public release	iOS 26.4	All compatible devices
June 2026	iOS 27 preview at WWDC	iOS 27 beta	Developers
September 2026	Phase 2 full release	iOS 27	All compatible devices

 

Phase 1: Enhanced Siri (iOS 26.4 – Spring 2026)

The first major Siri upgrade arrives with iOS 26.4 in spring 2026, transforming Siri from a simple command tool into an intelligent assistant with context awareness.

 

Key Features in Phase 1:

 

• Improved context understanding: Siri maintains conversation flow across multiple exchanges without ‘forgetting' previous requests
• Screen content recognition: Analyzes what's displayed on your screen—photos, web pages, documents—and responds accordingly
• Email and note summarization: Quickly condenses lengthy emails or notes into key points
• Basic cross-app operations: Executes simple multi-step tasks spanning different applications
• Visual analysis: Provides organization suggestions for cluttered desk photos, summarizes article content while browsing

 

Example Use Cases:

 

• ‘Summarize this email' while viewing your inbox—Siri identifies and condenses the message
• ‘How should I organize this?' while looking at a messy workspace photo—Siri provides step-by-step organization advice
• ‘What's the main point of this article?' while reading Safari—Siri extracts core themes

 

Phase 2: Conversational AI Siri (iOS 27 – Fall 2026)

The second phase in September 2026 delivers Siri's complete transformation into a full-featured conversational AI assistant rivaling ChatGPT and Google Assistant.

 

Advanced Features in Phase 2:

 

• Natural continuous dialogue: Engages in back-and-forth conversations maintaining full context across 20+ exchanges
• Complex multi-step task execution: Handles elaborate workflows like ‘Review urgent work emails from last week, create prioritized memo, set reminders for top 3 items tomorrow, sync calendar'
• Deep third-party app integration: Seamlessly controls apps like food delivery services, messaging platforms, productivity tools
• Personalized habit learning: Remembers preferences (food allergies, commute routes, payment methods) and proactively applies them
• Web search and synthesis: Performs online research and provides comprehensive, citation-backed answers

 

Example Advanced Workflows:

 

• ‘Order breakfast from my usual place, avoid cilantro, deliver to office, pay with Apple Pay'—executed with zero manual input
• ‘Find photos from last week's conference, crop to remove backgrounds, email to team with summary'—complete automation
• ‘Check traffic on my commute route, suggest earlier departure if needed'—proactive assistance based on learned patterns

 

Why Apple Chose Google Gemini for Siri

The Apple-Google partnership breaks Apple's traditional self-reliance approach, but strategic reasoning justifies this collaboration:

 

Factor	Explanation
Technical Gap	Gemini 2.5 Pro's 1.2 trillion parameters provide 8x more power than Apple's 150 billion parameter model
Time Pressure	Building competitive AI from scratch would take years; partnership delivers immediate capability
Privacy Preservation	Apple's Private Cloud Compute ensures Google cannot access user data; most processing remains on-device
Ecosystem Advantage	Apple maintains control over user interface and experience while leveraging Google's AI infrastructure

 

Compatible Devices for New Siri

The Google Gemini-powered Siri requires advanced hardware to function optimally:

 

Priority Compatibility (Full Features):

 

• iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 series (all models)
• iPad with M1 chip or newer
• Mac with M1 chip or newer

 

Gradual Rollout (Older Devices):

Older iPhone, iPad, and Mac models will receive gradual support with potentially limited functionality or increased cloud processing dependency.

 

How to Get Early Access to New Siri

iPhone users can access the new Siri before public release through Apple's Beta Software Program:

 

• Enroll at beta.apple.com using your Apple ID
• Install the beta configuration profile on your device
• Update to iOS 26.4 beta when released (expected mid-February 2026)
• Test Phase 1 Siri features 1-2 months before public release

 

Important: Beta software may contain bugs. Install on secondary devices if possible, and always backup data before upgrading.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

 

When exactly can I use the new Siri?

Beta testers can access Phase 1 features in mid-February 2026 via iOS 26.4 beta. Public users get Phase 1 in March-April 2026 with official iOS 26.4 release. Full Phase 2 conversational AI arrives September 2026 with iOS 27.

 

Will my current iPhone support the new Siri?

iPhone 15 Pro and newer receive full support immediately. iPhone 16 series gets priority access. Older models will gradually receive updates with potentially limited features or cloud-dependent processing.

 

Does Google see my data when using new Siri?

No. Apple's Private Cloud Compute architecture processes data on Apple servers using de-identified information. Google cannot access, view, or use your personal data for training. Most operations occur entirely on-device.

 

What's the difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2?

Phase 1 (Spring 2026) brings context awareness, screen recognition, and moderate task complexity. Phase 2 (Fall 2026) delivers full conversational abilities, complex multi-app workflows, personalization, and ChatGPT-level dialogue capabilities.

 

Can I try the beta version safely?

Beta versions may have bugs and stability issues. Apple recommends installing betas on non-primary devices. Always create complete backups before upgrading. Developer and public beta programs are free at beta.apple.com.

 

How is this different from current Siri?

Current Siri handles basic commands with limited context. New Siri understands screen content, maintains conversation flow, executes complex multi-step tasks, learns preferences, and provides ChatGPT-style responses—the biggest upgrade since Siri's 2011 launch.

 

Will this cost extra money?

No additional cost. The new Siri is included free with iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 updates for compatible devices. Apple pays Google approximately $1 billion annually for Gemini integration, but users receive it at no charge.

 

What happens to ChatGPT integration?

ChatGPT remains available as an optional plugin for specific queries. However, Google Gemini becomes Siri's core AI engine, handling primary intelligence functions. ChatGPT transitions to a supplementary role rather than primary integration.