siri

Apple Revamps Siri with App Intent Integration, Aiming for Voice-First App Control in 2026

Cupertino, CA – Apple is poised to fundamentally reshape the Siri experience, moving beyond simple voice commands to enable users to control third-party apps entirely through voice, according to a new report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The overhaul,powered by Apple’s new “App Intents” framework,is currently in rigorous testing and is slated for release potentially with iOS 26.4 in Spring 2026. This represents a meaningful shift towards a truly hands-free mobile experience and a direct challenge to Google’s assistant.

The Evolution of Voice Assistants: From Queries to Actions

For years, voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa have primarily functioned as information providers – answering questions, setting timers, and playing music. However, the next generation of these assistants aims to become proactive agents, capable of performing tasks within other applications. This evolution is driven by the need for more seamless and efficient user experiences, notably as mobile devices become increasingly central to daily life.

Apple’s approach, utilizing App Intents, allows Siri to directly interact with apps developed by other companies. This is similar in concept to Android’s “App Actions,” but Apple’s implementation is designed to offer a deeper level of integration across the entire Apple ecosystem – iPhone,iPad,and Mac. App Intents essentially provides a standardized way for apps to expose their functionality to Siri, allowing the assistant to execute actions without requiring users to physically interact with their devices.

what will This mean for Users?

The implications of this upgrade are considerable. Users will be able to, such as, order items from shopping apps, book rides, control smart home devices, and navigate within applications – all through voice commands. Gurman’s report highlights that Apple is currently testing the new Siri with a range of popular apps, including AllTrails, Amazon, Facebook, Temu, Threads, Uber, WhatsApp, and YouTube.

The success of this initiative hinges on widespread app compatibility. Apple engineers are focused on ensuring App Intents work reliably across a diverse range of applications, particularly in scenarios involving financial transactions where accuracy and security are paramount. The testing phase is specifically addressing performance issues in these “high-stakes” situations.Apple’s Broader Strategy & Competition with Google

This revamped Siri isn’t just about improving the mobile experience. It’s also a crucial component of Apple’s broader strategy for its future hardware, including rumored smart displays and a tabletop robot.A powerful, voice-driven assistant will be key to differentiating these products from existing offerings by Amazon and google. The delay in delivering this upgraded Siri has impacted development across Apple’s entire product portfolio.

Meanwhile, Google is also working on enhancing its Assistant with features like the rumored “magic Cue,” which aims to understand on-screen content and anticipate user needs. However, Google’s current efforts appear more focused on assisting with actions through suggestions, rather than directly controlling apps as Apple intends. Furthermore, early indications suggest Google’s advanced features may initially be limited to Pixel devices, potentially hindering wider adoption.

The race to deliver a truly smart and proactive voice assistant is heating up. Apple’s App Intents framework represents a bold step towards a future where users can interact with their devices and applications entirely through voice, potentially ushering in a new era of agentic mobile usage.