Apple’s Siri chief calls AI delays ugly and embarrassing, promises fixes

Apple’s Siri Chief Experiences "Ugly" Delays, Embarrassment

Apple’s top executive overseeing its Siri virtual assistant, Robby Walker, has admitted to a "bad" period for the team, citing delays to key features as "ugly and embarrassing".

In a private meeting with the Siri division, Walker, a senior director at Apple, acknowledged that the team is facing a tough time, with features delayed indefinitely. The features, which were showcased at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) last June, were meant to revolutionize Siri, allowing it to tap into users’ personal data to better respond to queries and control apps more accurately.

However, the technology was not ready for prime time, and Walker described the situation as "ugly" because Apple had already shown off the features publicly. "We showed people before," he said. "This was not one of those situations where we get to show people our plan after it’s done."

The delay is just the latest in a series of setbacks for Apple’s AI efforts, which have been plagued by bugs and engineering problems. The company had initially planned to release the features in April, but pushed back the launch to May, and now it’s looking at a possible release in the iOS 19 software cycle next year.

Walker praised the team’s work, saying they had developed "incredibly impressive" features, but acknowledged that the delays had left employees feeling "angry, disappointed, burned out, and embarrassed". He suggested that some staff may be feeling "relieved" over the delays, while others might be feeling "embarrassed" about the situation.

The delays have also raised concerns about the future of Apple’s AI efforts, which were touted as a major part of its Apple Intelligence push. Walker assured employees that the company is committed to delivering the features, but warned that it will take time. "We want to keep our commitments to other projects, and we understand those are now potentially more timeline-urgent than the features that have been deferred," he said.

Conclusions

Apple’s struggles with its AI efforts are a clear indication that the company is facing significant challenges in the field. The delays to key features have left employees feeling frustrated and embarrassed, and it’s unclear when the technology will be ready for release. While Walker’s comments aim to reassure the team, it’s clear that Apple has a long way to go to catch up with its rivals in the AI space.

FAQs

• What are the delayed features in Apple’s Siri?
  The features include the ability to tap into users’ personal data to better respond to queries, control apps more accurately, and analyze content on a user’s screen.
• Why were the features delayed?
  The features were delayed due to bugs and engineering problems, which made them not ready for release.
• When will the features be released?
  The features are expected to be released in the iOS 19 software cycle next year, but an exact date has not been confirmed.
• How will the delays affect the future of Apple’s AI efforts?
  The delays have raised concerns about the future of Apple’s AI efforts, which were touted as a major part of its Apple Intelligence push.