According to Thurrott.com, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has detailed the specific schedule for Apple’s long-promised Siri overhaul. The first major update, powered by Google’s Gemini AI, will debut in a developer beta for iOS 26.4 next month, February 2025, before a wider public release. A more complete “conversational Siri” rebuild, codenamed “Campos,” is slated for unveiling at WWDC in June 2026 and public release in September 2026 with iOS 27. This new assistant will run on a more powerful “Apple Foundation Models version 11” with nearly 1.2 trillion parameters, hosted on Apple’s Private Cloud Compute. Gurman also notes Apple is testing three versions of a delayed HomePod smart display and has paused work on an AI-centric Safari browser overhaul to focus on Siri first.
Siri’s Two-Step Transformation
Here’s the thing: Apple isn’t doing one Siri update, it’s doing two. And that’s actually pretty smart. The first step, coming incredibly soon, is basically a backend swap. They’re plugging Gemini into the old, frustrating Siri we know. This gets a more capable AI out to users fast, even if the experience of talking to it feels dated. It’s a stopgap, but an important one. The real magic is “Campos,” the 2026 rebuild. That’s when they tear down the whole architecture and build something new from the ground up, with a fresh interface meant for actual conversation. Think of it like renovating a house. Next month, they’re upgrading the plumbing and wiring. In 2026, they’re knocking down walls and adding a whole new wing.
The Infrastructure Gamble
The technical details Gurman reveals are fascinating, and they highlight a huge strategic decision Apple is wrestling with. They’ve built this “Apple Foundation Models version 10” on Gemini, and they’re hosting it on their own Apple Private Cloud Compute infrastructure. That’s key for privacy, a major Apple selling point. But the next version, the big one for 2026, might not run on Apple’s servers at all. Gurman says they’re considering using Google’s more powerful AI infrastructure. That’s a massive trade-off. Does Apple prioritize raw performance and capability, or does it double down on its own controlled, privacy-focused stack? I think this is the single biggest unanswered question in their entire AI plan. Can they build a “competitive” model without relying on a rival’s cloud?
Beyond Siri: The Bigger Picture
So Siri is the immediate focus, but Gurman’s report shows Apple’s ambitions are much wider. The paused “Safari for the AI era” project is a direct shot at Perplexity and other AI-native browsers. Overhauling Calendar and adding chatbot UIs to core apps like Music and Health points to a future where AI is woven into everything, not just a voice assistant. But honestly, that all depends on getting Siri right first. Siri’s failures have held back other products, like the HomePod smart display, for years. If this Gemini-powered transition works, it unblocks a whole pipeline of hardware and software. If it stumbles again? Well, let’s just say the laughing won’t stop. The pressure on that iOS 26.4 beta next month is going to be immense.
