The iOS 26.5 beta released today does not include any new Apple Intelligence Siri capabilities, reinforcing expectations that Apple’s major Siri upgrades are still not ready for release.
The absence of new functionality suggests that the more advanced Siri features Apple previously announced are likely being pushed further down the roadmap, with current expectations pointing toward a debut in iOS 27 instead.
For now, the beta appears to focus on other system changes and regional updates rather than expanding Siri’s AI-driven capabilities.
Apple’s plans for a more advanced Apple Intelligence version of Siri have continued to slip further back in the release timeline, according to reporting from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
The company originally aimed to ship new Siri capabilities in iOS 26.4, but that target was missed due to ongoing issues with accuracy and reliability. Gurman later reported that Apple was considering a shift to either iOS 26.5 or even iOS 27 for at least part of the rollout.
At one point, internal testing builds of iOS 26.5 reportedly included the full set of Siri upgrades demonstrated at WWDC 2024. However, those features have not appeared in the public beta, suggesting they are still not ready for release.
As of now, iOS 26.5 shows no visible progress on Siri’s AI overhaul. This makes a near-term launch less likely, with expectations shifting toward a larger debut in iOS 27, which is expected to be announced at WWDC and released later in 2026.
Gurman has also indicated that iOS 27 could introduce a standalone Siri chatbot-style app, positioning Siri more directly against tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Google’s Gemini. This would represent a major evolution from the traditional assistant into a more general-purpose AI interface.
Apple’s messaging around timing has shifted over the past year—from an expected 2025 rollout, to a delayed 2026 release window—reflecting ongoing development challenges. While the company remains on track to eventually deliver the upgrade, the current direction suggests users may not see the full AI-powered Siri experience until iOS 27 arrives.