Apple plans to turn Siri into an AI agent by next year

Moving beyond simple requests

Apple is preparing to transform Siri from a basic voice assistant into a more capable AI agent. Currently, the assistant primarily functions on a request-based model, where it responds to specific prompts from the user. The company wants to shift this toward an agentic model that can perform multi-step actions.

According to a report from Bloomberg, CEO John Ternus is pushing for an accelerated roadmap to meet market demands. While Ternus told analysts that the company already has the Siri they wanted, internal communications suggest a desire for more urgency. He is reportedly frustrated by a perceived lack of speed compared to other tech giants.

The goal is to give Siri capabilities similar to popular agents like Dots, Muse, and Grok. These types of agents are designed to handle complex workflows rather than just providing isolated pieces of information. By making this transition, Apple hopes to keep its software relevant in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.

The architecture of an agent

To achieve these goals, Apple is utilizing a modern orchestrator-driven architecture for Siri. An orchestrator is a system that manages different tasks and decides which tools or data sources are needed to complete a goal. This framework allows the assistant to coordinate actions across various parts of the operating system.

The company has already begun allowing developers to connect their own apps to Siri to test these new features. This initiative is intended to create a more seamless experience where Siri can interact with third-party software. These tests are currently underway to ensure the technology can handle real-world usage scenarios.

While the initial experiences for these features are expected in the coming months, the full rollout is a long-term project. Apple has planned for official App Store submissions for these integrated features to occur in spring 2027. This timeline suggests that while the core technology is moving fast, the polished user experience will take years to perfect.

Leadership and internal shifts

Craig Federighi, often referred to as Apple's AI czar, has been tasked with leading the charge for these new capabilities. He is overseeing the high-level strategy to ensure Siri can compete with the growing popularity of personalized agents. These agents are becoming a significant part of the consumer experience, with millions of people already using them.

However, the leadership team faces some potential instability regarding the development of Siri AI. Mike Rockwell, who led the development of the Vision Pro and is currently leading Siri AI efforts, is reportedly considering stepping down. His departure could impact the pace of development for the assistant's new features.

If Rockwell leaves, the responsibility would fall to Amar Subramanya and Sebastien Marineau. Subramanya is a Google veteran who was hired last year specifically to strengthen Apple's AI efforts. The company is balancing these personnel shifts while trying to maintain its momentum in the AI race.

Market sentiment and competition

The move toward AI agents comes as market observers watch Apple's position in the tech industry closely. Some analysts suggest that personalized agents represent a significant risk to the existing Apple ecosystem. They argue that as these agents become more common, they could change how users interact with hardware and software alike.

Retail sentiment on platforms like Stocktwits has remained bearish on Apple stock recently. Some traders noted that Apple is the least AI-levered name in the Magnificent Seven group of equities. This means that while the company is investing in AI, its stock price may not be as sensitive to the AI trade as its competitors.

Despite the bearish sentiment, Apple's stock has shown strong performance year to date. It has seen the best performance in the Magnificent Seven group so far this year. The company is attempting to balance its traditional hardware strengths with the necessary shift toward agentic software.

The road to 2027

Apple faces a significant challenge in re-engineering how its software interacts with users. Some critics have suggested that the company needs to rethink its software team to better utilize automated coding agents. These tools could potentially help fix long-standing bugs in core apps like Calendar or TV by speeding up the development cycle.

The transition to an agentic Siri will require deep integration with both native and third-party applications. By allowing developers to test these connections now, Apple is building the foundation for a more interconnected experience. The success of this plan depends on how well the orchestrator-driven architecture can handle complex, multi-app tasks.

As the company moves toward the 2027 deadline for full App Store integration, the focus will remain on reliability. Apple must ensure that these new agent capabilities do not introduce significant bugs into the user experience. The goal is to provide a tool that feels like a helpful assistant rather than a complicated piece of software.