Apple’s hyped AI overhual for Siri could be beset by delayed features
Phones

Apple’s hyped AI overhual for Siri could be beset by delayed features

Apple's anticipated overhaul of Siri in the iOS 26.4 update has been delayed due to performance issues, pushing the major feature enhancements further into the future. The publication highlights the challenges facing this AI upgrade.


What is the 'more personal Siri' feature that has been delayed?
The 'more personal Siri' feature allows Siri to access and use personal data from users' text messages, emails, and other apps to provide context-aware responses, such as finding a podcast link shared in a message or details about a family member's flight.
Sources: [1], [2]
Why is Apple using Google's Gemini for the Siri AI overhaul?
Apple chose Google's Gemini models after determining they provide the most capable foundation for its Apple Foundation Models, due to performance and reliability issues with its own AI development, as part of a multi-year deal announced recently.
Sources: [1], [2]

11 February 2026

Digital Trends
Demand for sovereign systems extends to the Earth-observation stack
Commercial

Demand for sovereign systems extends to the Earth-observation stack

At the World Economic Forum, discussions highlighted the role of middle powers in global affairs. Meanwhile, at the SmallSat Symposium, Earth-observation companies noted a growing demand for sovereign systems among these nations, reflecting their evolving influence.


What is Earth observation?
Earth observation (EO) is the gathering of information about the Earth's surface, waters, atmosphere, and physical, chemical, and biological systems using remote sensing from satellites, airborne platforms, or ground-based sensors to monitor environmental changes and support applications like agriculture, climate monitoring, and disaster response.
Sources: [1], [2]
What are sovereign systems in the context of Earth observation?
Sovereign Earth observation systems refer to national governments developing their own independent satellite programs and infrastructure to gather EO data, driven by national security, geopolitical independence, and the need to monitor domestic assets like climate and borders without relying on foreign data sources.
Sources: [1], [2]

11 February 2026

SpaceNews
Apple

Siri testing isn't going well, new features probably wont ship in iOS 26.4

A recent Bloomberg report indicates that internal testing for the new Siri has faced challenges, leading to potential delays in features, including personal data access, which may be postponed to iOS 26.5 and iOS 27.


What specific issues are causing delays in the new Siri features?
Internal testing has revealed problems such as Siri failing to process queries correctly, taking too long to respond, struggling with fast speech and complex queries by interrupting users, and inconsistently reverting to ChatGPT integration.
Sources: [1], [2], [3]
What is meant by Siri's 'personal data access' feature?
This feature allows the upgraded Siri to access and search a user's personal data, such as text messages and emails, to retrieve specific details like a podcast link and act on them immediately, such as playing it.
Sources: [1], [2]

11 February 2026

AppleInsider News
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