After a slow start in the field, Apple now seems ready to catch up with Google, Microsoft, and Meta. According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, 2026 will mark a major turning point for the tech giant with the arrival of iOS 27, a version focused on artificial intelligence and packed with major new features.
A new era for Siri and intelligent search
Even before iOS 27, Apple is already laying the groundwork with iOS 26.4, expected next spring. This update will introduce a new version of Siri, powered by Google’s language models, particularly Gemini, through a partnership between the two companies. This evolution will allow the voice assistant to deliver responses that are more natural, faster, and above all, more relevant.
But the real turning point will come in the fall with the unveiling of iOS 27 at WWDC 2026. According to Bloomberg, three new AI-powered services are in development. The first will focus on a reimagined voice search system, similar to Gemini Live on Android. The second will introduce an AI-assisted web search capable of understanding context and generating personalized summaries.
Finally, the third will be a health-focused artificial intelligence integrated directly into Apple’s Health app. This assistant would access the user’s biometric data to offer personalized recommendations on sleep, nutrition, and physical activity, and could even issue preventive alerts. If implemented, this would mark a world first.
From caution to ambition
For a long time, Apple took a cautious stance toward the rise of artificial intelligence. While Google, Meta and Microsoft quickly rolled out their models such as Gemini, Llama and Copilot, Apple preferred to wait and integrate the technology in a way that fit naturally within its ecosystem.
With Apple Intelligence, officially launched in 2024, the company began to shift direction, though in a limited way. The tool already allowed users to generate text, edit images and perform visual searches. However, the integration remained modest compared to what competitors were offering.
Now, everything points to 2026 as the year Apple truly takes off in the AI race. With a redesigned Siri, smarter search capabilities and a new health assistant, the company finally seems ready to harness the full potential of its ecosystem and fully embrace the new digital era.
