iOS 18.5 to Bring Some Useful Improvements to Siri

Apple’s iOS 18.5 is coming, and while it’s bringing some nice improvements, it’s not the massive AI-powered Siri overhaul that many were hoping for. Instead, this update is more of a stepping stone—some useful improvements, but the real game-changing ones are still a ways off.

One of biggest tweaks in iOS 18.5 is how Siri handles on-screen awareness. Basically, Siri will get a bit smarter at recognizing and interacting with whatever is on your screen, making it feel more intuitive when giving commands. Apple is also working on deeper app integration, meaning Siri will be able to handle more complex tasks within apps instead of just launching them or performing basic functions. Another improvement is in personalized context—Siri is expected to do a better job remembering previous commands and maintaining context throughout a conversation. It’s not quite the full-fledged AI assistant everyone dreams of, but it’s a step in the right direction.

These features were actually supposed to drop in iOS 18.4, but Apple had to push them back due to software challenges. iOS 18.5 is expected to launch in May 2025. However, these improvements won’t be available on all iPhones. Only the newer models, like the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and the upcoming iPhone 16 series, will get the AI-powered features. If you’re using an older iPhone model, you won’t see much of a difference.

What about the real AI-powered Siri upgrade that’s been making headlines? Well, that’s not happening until at least iOS 20. Apple is working on a generative AI version of Siri that promises to be a real game-changer, with a much more natural, conversational flow, smarter task automation across multiple apps, and even potential ChatGPT-like abilities. But don’t get too excited yet—Apple has been facing internal issues with AI development, which is why the rollout keeps getting delayed.

iOS 18.5 is set to bring some useful improvements, but if you’re hoping for a game-changing Siri experience just yet, you might need to wait a little longer. Apple is still working on an AI-powered version of Siri, which is expected to be a significant upgrade when it arrives. In the meantime, we can look forward to smaller, yet meaningful, updates as Apple continues to improve Siri and its capabilities on iPhones.

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