Apple has reiterated its commitment to launching new Siri features this year, directly addressing concerns raised by a Bloomberg report suggesting internal delays. While the company hasn't officially commented on the specific delays mentioned by Bloomberg, its confirmation to CNBC underscores a public promise made repeatedly since last year's WWDC 2024 keynote. These long-awaited features, including Siri's ability to understand personal context and perform in-app actions, were initially slated for iOS 26.4. However, the Bloomberg report indicated this target would likely be missed, pushing the launch to iOS 26.5 or later in 2026.

This renewed commitment comes amidst a significant drop in Apple's stock price following the Bloomberg report, highlighting investor anxiety over the AI assistant's delayed rollout. The features represent a major shift for Siri, incorporating Google Gemini models for the first time, as part of a recent partnership between the tech giants. While Apple's confirmation doesn't deny the reported delays, it emphasizes the company's continued focus on delivering these advanced capabilities, even if the timeline slips.

The implications are significant for both consumers awaiting smarter Siri functionality and the broader AI landscape, where Apple's progress is closely watched. The confirmation that Siri will launch this year, albeit potentially later than initially hoped, provides a concrete timeline amidst the uncertainty.