Apple's long-awaited conversational Siri upgrade may not see the light of day until 2027, according to insiders within the company's AI department. This revelation comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who reported that Apple is facing significant challenges in developing a truly modernized version of its virtual assistant. The news is a setback for Apple fans who have been eagerly anticipating a more natural and advanced Siri experience.

Currently, Apple is expected to roll out an LLM-powered Siri upgrade in iOS 18.5, but this will operate as a separate model from the existing Siri system. The ultimate goal is to merge the two into a new architecture that can handle both simple requests and advanced AI-powered abilities. However, this combined Siri architecture, initially planned for iOS 19.4, is now "running behind" and won't be unveiled at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June, according to Gurman.

The delay is attributed to Apple's struggles in securing the necessary AI training hardware, as well as "ineffective leadership" and talent poaching by rival companies. This is reminiscent of Amazon's own struggles in upgrading its Alexa AI assistant, which reportedly involved a "hundred percent re-architected" system that blends the old Alexa with the new. Amazon's head of Devices and Services, Panos Panay, confirmed that the new Alexa Plus system is coming soon, albeit only to certain devices.

Apple's AI department is facing significant hurdles, with insiders claiming that the company's models "are reaching their limits." The lack of progress is further exacerbated by the departure of key talent to rival companies, making it even more challenging for Apple to catch up. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, Apple's delay in delivering a truly conversational Siri experience may give its competitors an opportunity to gain a foothold in the market.

The implications of this delay are far-reaching, with potential consequences for Apple's ecosystem and user experience. As the tech giant continues to grapple with the challenges of developing a modernized Siri, its users will have to wait even longer for a more advanced and natural virtual assistant experience. With Amazon and other rivals pushing forward with their own AI upgrades, the pressure is on Apple to deliver a truly revolutionary Siri experience – whenever that may be.