Apple prepares major Siri overhaul ahead of WWDC 2026

Apple is reportedly preparing to unveil a significantly redesigned version of Siri at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2026, marking one of the company’s most ambitious updates to its voice assistant in recent years.

According to a Bloomberg report, the new Siri experience will feature deeper integration with artificial intelligence and a redesigned user interface across the iPhone. The report includes illustrations of how the assistant may appear when introduced. However, Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman noted that “The final version set to be introduced to the public in June could differ.”

The upcoming changes are expected to position Siri more prominently within Apple’s ecosystem as the company seeks to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities and compete with rival AI platforms.

Siri to gain new interface and AI integrations

One of the most notable changes reportedly involves Siri’s integration with the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. Users will continue to activate the assistant by saying “Siri” or by pressing and holding the device’s power button. Still, the overall experience is expected to become more interactive and accessible.

Apple is also said to be developing a new “Search or Ask” interface that can be accessed by swiping down from the top centre of the iPhone’s screen. The feature is expected to combine elements of the existing Search function in iOS 26 with expanded AI-powered capabilities.

The interface will reportedly retain Siri Suggestions, which recommend frequently used applications, while introducing additional tools designed to streamline everyday tasks. According to the report, users may be able to launch applications, send messages, create calendar events and search through notes directly from the new interface.

Bloomberg also reported that Apple is exploring allowing third-party AI services to access Siri. Potential integrations could include OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Anthropic’s Claude and Google’s Gemini, giving users more flexibility when interacting with AI-powered tools. In addition, Apple is reportedly considering a standalone Siri application that users could place directly on their home screens.

Expanded visual intelligence and camera features

Apple’s planned Siri update is also expected to extend beyond voice interactions and text-based assistance. The company is reportedly working on a new visual AI mode to be integrated into the iPhone’s camera app.

The feature is expected to replace Apple’s existing Visual Intelligence system, which has struggled to gain significant traction since its introduction. The new version would allow users to take photographs and analyse them using a range of AI-powered services.

According to the report, users could perform reverse image searches through Google or send images to third-party AI systems for analysis. This would enable a broader range of visual recognition and information-gathering capabilities directly from the camera interface.

The move reflects a wider trend across the technology industry, where smartphone makers are increasingly incorporating artificial intelligence into camera experiences. By enhancing image recognition and contextual understanding, companies aim to make mobile devices more useful in everyday situations.

Apple has yet to confirm details of the reported features publicly. However, the company’s growing focus on artificial intelligence has generated considerable interest ahead of WWDC 2026, where further details are expected to emerge.

Photos app to receive AI-powered editing tools

In addition to the changes planned for Siri and the camera application, Apple is reportedly preparing new artificial intelligence features for its Photos app.

Among the anticipated additions are the tools “Reframe” and “Extend”. As their names suggest, Reframe would allow users to adjust the composition and perspective of existing images. At the same time, Extend would use AI technology to generate additional visual content beyond the original boundaries of a photograph.

These capabilities have already appeared on several Android devices, where AI-assisted image editing has become increasingly common. By introducing similar tools, Apple appears to be bringing its photo-editing platform closer in line with features already available from competitors.

The report suggests that the new tools will form part of a broader effort to modernise Apple’s image-editing experience. Existing editing functions have sometimes been criticised for slower performance compared with rival platforms, and users will likely expect improvements in speed and responsiveness alongside the new AI-powered capabilities.

If the reported features are unveiled at WWDC 2026, they could represent one of the most substantial upgrades to Siri and Apple’s consumer AI offerings to date. The announcement would also signal Apple’s determination to play a more prominent role in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence market amid intensifying competition among technology companies.