Updated: May 19, 2026 – 5 episodes
Apple is reportedly working on a major update for Siri, incorporating advanced AI features and deeper integration across its ecosystem. This move aims to enhance user experience and keep pace with competitors in the AI-driven voice assistant market. The revamp could significantly impact how users interact with Apple devices.
Hard Fork delivers a critical perspective on Apple's AI journey, arguing that under Tim Cook, the company has lagged behind in AI innovation. Their episode paints a picture of missed opportunities and delays. On the flip side, All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg envisions a future where Siri becomes an integral AI layer across all Apple devices, offering a personalized user experience. For a balanced view, The Rundown discusses Apple's potential advantage due to its device ecosystem despite its current AI strategy setbacks. Start with Hard Fork for a deep dive into Apple's AI challenges.
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“We should also talk about the fact that under Tim Cook's tenure, Apple has become what I would consider an AI laggard, right? They are not a frontier AI model company. Their own AI efforts under the banner of Apple intelligence have been sort of delayed over and over again. They have not managed to give Siri the sort of brain transplant that they have been teasing now for years.”
Ridealong summary
Apple has become an AI laggard under Tim Cook, failing to advance Siri despite years of promises, and remains behind in AI innovation.
“"The software layer of the future is not the software layer of the past. So it's pretty obvious... you just need the Siri equivalent that's ubiquitous in all of your devices, knows who you are, personalized to you, sees your email, sees your calendar entries, knows what kind of music you like, has connection to your home, basically build that AI layer for your life."”
Ridealong summary
Apple's new CEO should focus on creating a ubiquitous AI layer across all devices, making Siri a personalized and integral part of users' lives.
“I think when Forstall was pushed out of the company the company was left with senior leadership. Nobody was left who thought Siri is the future of the company, you know, or the future of technology, this sort of interface. And it just sort of fell by the wayside and actually got worse. People forget how much more useful Siri was around 2013 or so than it eventually got. It actually got worse.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's neglect of Siri since Steve Jobs' era has led to its decline, and the current leadership lacks the vision to make it a priority.
“But what he really needs to figure out though, is Apple's long-term AI strategy and how to fix Siri. Updates to Siri keep getting delayed. And I just feel like Apple's software overall continues I feel like there's so many more bugs these days in iOS and macOS updates. But going back to AI, Apple is playing catch up when it comes to their peers. They don't have a leading edge AI model.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's AI strategy is lagging, but its massive device distribution and powerful chips could give it a unique edge in the AI market.
“Obviously the biggest one is undoubtedly the next generation version of Siri, which won't have shipped by the time Tim leaves. Not yet. Not yet. Close. Because we're expecting it to be announced again, I guess, at WWDC and then roll out with iOS 27 in September. So a huge amount rests on that and really how much that can really deliver on the promises that we've already had made to us and how much it can stand up to the competition.”
Ridealong summary
Apple's AI features, including the next generation of Siri, are still far behind competitors and may not deliver on promises.