Apple is reportedly planning to transform Siri into a full-scale AI chatbot this June, marking the voice assistant's most significant overhaul since its 2011 debut. The revamp, internally codenamed "Campos," will debut at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference alongside iOS 27.
The new Siri will compete directly with ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude through a conversational interface handling both voice and text. Powered by Google's Gemini technology under Apple's recently confirmed partnership, the chatbot will integrate deeply across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
Apple's timing follows its recent return to China's smartphone market leadership. The company captured 21.8% of Chinese shipments in Q4 2025 with 28% year-over-year growth, driven by strong iPhone 17 series sales. This market position provides a solid foundation for launching advanced AI features.
The Campos project will replace Apple's current voice assistant with a generative AI system capable of web searches, content summarization, coding assistance, and file analysis. Unlike competing chatbots, Siri will access personal device data to complete tasks and adjust system settings.
Apple faces semiconductor challenges as it prepares its AI push. The company reportedly lost its priority shipment status at TSMC to NVIDIA, with AI companies now outspending smartphone manufacturers on chip production. Industry analysts estimate iPhone 18's A20 chips could cost $280 each, up from previous generations.
The Siri chatbot will activate through the traditional "Hey Siri" wake word or by holding the iPhone's side button. Apple plans to integrate the assistant across Mail, Photos, Messages, Music, and TV apps, potentially replacing the Spotlight search function.
Privacy considerations will limit Siri's memory retention compared to competitors. The company aims to balance advanced functionality with its traditional emphasis on user data protection.
Apple's AI ambitions come as TSMC invests $50 billion this year to expand AI-focused chip capacity. The semiconductor shift reflects broader industry trends where AI hardware now drives manufacturing priorities over smartphones.
The revamped Siri represents Apple's response to competitive pressure from OpenAI, which confirmed its own AI hardware partnership with former Apple design chief Jony Ive earlier this month. Both companies target seamless AI integration across devices.
Apple will position the Siri chatbot as the centerpiece of its 2026 software updates, with general availability expected in September alongside iOS 27's public release. The update aims to close Apple's AI gap while leveraging its approximately $3.8 trillion market position and ecosystem integration advantages.
