Apple Executives Clarify: Demonstrated AI-Powered Siri Was Real, Just Not Ready for Release

Following Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 25), company executives addressed concerns about the absence of the much-anticipated AI-powered Siri, which had been showcased during WWDC 24. In several interviews, they emphasized that the delay was not due to a shortfall in capabilities but a commitment to shipping a high-quality product. When queried by The Wall Street Journal about why Apple, despite its vast resources and expertise, hadn’t managed to make the technology ready, senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, maintained that AI is a transformative technology with long-lasting implications. "There’s no need to rush out with the wrong features and the wrong product just to be first," he stated, underscoring Apple's focus on long-term goals over short-term accolades. Federighi further clarified in separate interviews with Tom's Guide and TechRadar that the AI-powered Siri was shown at WWDC 24 to provide a comprehensive view of Apple’s vision and future direction. The demonstration featured real working software with a genuine large language model and semantic search capabilities. However, as development advanced, the team recognized that Version 1 of the architecture wouldn't suffice. They decided to pivot to Version 2, which is now slated for release in 2026. This shift was made to ensure the product met the high standards expected by customers. Executive denial of the "demoware" label was strong and consistent. Federighi asserted that the footage was of actual, functioning software. Greg Joswiak, senior vice president of worldwide marketing, echoed this by pointing out the narrative误区 that the technology was merely a demo. He explained, "No, it was something we thought we’d actually ship by later in the year," but ultimately, the error rate was deemed too high, leading to the decision to delay the launch to avoid customer disappointment. Beyond Siri, Apple’s broader AI strategy was also highlighted. The company’s aim, according to Federighi, is not to create a chatbot that rivals ChatGPT or similar platforms. Instead, Apple seeks to integrate intelligent capabilities deeply into its operating systems across all platforms. "This wasn’t about us building a chatbot… we weren’t defining what Apple Intelligence was to be our chatbot," he told Tom's Guide. "That was never our goal. We want to bring intelligence that meets you where you are, seamlessly blending into your daily interactions with our devices." Another key aspect of Apple’s AI plan involves providing developers with robust tools to leverage the company’s foundation models. These tools are designed to enable the creation of more intelligent and user-friendly applications, reflecting Apple's commitment to enhancing the overall ecosystem rather than focusing solely on a single product. In sum, Apple executives are emphasizing their dedication to quality and long-term transformation through AI, rather than rushing a potentially subpar product to market. Their approach aims to integrate artificial intelligence seamlessly and comprehensively across their platforms, ensuring a cohesive and beneficial user experience for years to come.