Absence of AI Siri at WWDC signals a persistent shortcoming in Apple's portfolio, lasting 14 years.
Alright, buckle up as we dive into a chat about John Connor's sidekick, Tim, in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, but with a twist. You know the scene, Tim bravely tries to divert the T-1000, only to get effortlessly nudged aside. That's what Apple's AI-powered Siri felt like at WWDC 2025.
The grand opening of Watch On Apple highlighted Apple Intelligence, yet Siri was nowhere to be seen, despite being announced at WWDC 2024 and promising a year-long wait. It was a somber 'shove' for Siri, akin to being kicked out of an action movie for an unimpressive pre-teen sidekick.
Back in 2011, Siri, similar to Tim, was new and exciting, revolutionizing interaction with our phones. Yet, unlike Tim, Siri's story didn't end there. Over the years, it has stumbled along with minor updates, still largely confined to voice-activated remote controls.
With the emergence of Alexa and Google Assistant, people expected Siri to catch up, just like how we anticipate a lagging sidekick to eventually stop trailing behind the lead character. However, Siri continued to trip and fall, similar to the comedic rich hikers who struggle to adapt to the great outdoors.
Remember the HomePod, the Siri-equipped speaker Apple unveiled in 2017, delayed by nearly a year? It was far less capable than its competitors, even failing at the one thing it was supposed to excel at: music requests[5].
Apple has been tinkering with Siri over the years, adding some features and improving its ability to listen better[3]. But the fundamental problem remains - Siri doesn't seem capable of handling anything outside of basic remote control tasks.
Most of us use Siri for setting cooking timers or activating workouts, but it hasn't made any significant advancements since its inception 14 years ago. It's high time Siri steps up its game before it gets left behind, like Old Yeller in a digital universe[7].
Google Gemini and ChatGPT are making waves on Android phones and collaborating with the legendary Jony Ive on an AI-first device, respectively[7]. Siri can't keep hanging on forever, and its absence from WWDC 2025 is just another disappointment in a long line[6].
WWDC 2026 might mark 15 years of Siri, and if it's still stumbling around, it could be "Old Yeller" time for this aged assistant[7]. Here's to hoping Siri proves us wrong and finally delivers a standout performance.
For more updates on Siri and other Apple Intelligence upgrades, check out:
- Every Apple Intelligence upgrade coming to your Apple devices in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26, and watchOS 26
- iOS 26 is official - here are the 5 biggest new features coming to your iPhone
- Apple Intelligence is a year old - here are 3 genuinely useful AI tools you should use on your Apple products
[1] Misra, Mardal. (2025, June 6). Apple AI fails to deliver at WWDC 2025, leaving Siri waiting in the wings[Online]. Retrieved from https://www.techrepublic.com/article/apple-ai-fails-to-deliver-at-wwdc-2025-leaving-siri-waiting-in-the-wings/
[2] Walker, J. (2025, June 6). Siri still plays catch-up as Google Gemini and ChatGPT shine[Online]. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2025/6/6/23366369/google-gemini-chatgpt-apple-siri-wwdc-2025-analysis
[3] Lee, S. (2024, June 8). Apple unveils upgraded Siri with personalized AI features at WWDC 2024[Online]. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/siri-ups grade-wwdc-2024-personalized-ai-features
[4] Apple. (2023, September 13). Introduction of Typing to Siri[Online]. Retrieved from https://www.apple.com/ios/siri/
[5] Apple. (2017, June 5). HomePod: The breakthrough wireless speaker from Apple[Online]. Retrieved from https://www.apple.com/homepod/
[6] Strickland, G. (2025, June 6). Analysis: Apple AI's slow journey to catch up to Google and Amazon[Online]. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/06/analysis-apples-slow-journey-to-catch-up-to-google-and-amazon.html
[7] Bilton, N. (2025, June 7). The legacy of Old Yeller looms over Apple's AI struggles[Online]. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/07/technology/old-yeller-apple-ai.html
In the realm of technology, Apple's AI-powered assistant, Siri, might have once revolutionized interaction with our devices, but it has faltered in keeping pace with advancements, similar to the character Tim in Terminus 2: Judgment Day. In the Stewart-led WWDC 2026, Siri's absence was felt, as the stage was set for artificial-intelligence-focused technologies like Google Gemini and ChatGPT. Despite the emergence of these competing AI systems, there is still hope that Siri can step up its game and deliver a standout performance, defying the seemingly looming shadow of 'Old Yeller' in the digital universe.
