Apple is reportedly considering a significant shift in its artificial intelligence strategy for Siri, exploring the use of AI technology from third-party developers like Anthropic or OpenAI, rather than exclusively relying on its own in-house models. This potential move comes amidst ongoing delays in the launch of its highly anticipated AI-enhanced Siri features, which were initially announced at a previous Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

Discussions have been held with both Anthropic and OpenAI regarding the integration of their large language models (LLMs) to power a new version of Siri. Apple has reportedly asked these companies to train custom versions of their LLMs that could run on Apple's cloud infrastructure for testing purposes. While these discussions are at an early stage, and no final decision has been made, the exploration of third-party models signals a potential acknowledgment of challenges in scaling Apple's native AI technology to compete with global rivals.

Previously, Apple had announced AI-powered features for Siri, including human-like responses, deeper integration with first-party and third-party apps, and the ability to perform complex, multi-interface tasks. However, these features did not arrive with the iPhone 16 series launch, and Apple remained tight-lipped about Siri's progress even as the first batch of Apple Intelligence began rolling out. The company later confirmed at WWDC 2025 that these Siri improvements would be delayed until 2026, citing the need for more time to meet their high-quality standards.

These delays have led to internal executive changes, with Mike Rockwell reportedly taking charge of Siri's development after CEO Tim Cook lost confidence in the previous AI head, John Giannandrea's ability to execute product development. At WWDC 2025, Apple's software chief Craig Federighi indicated a focus on incremental developments rather than the sweeping AI ambitions seen from competitors. He also mentioned opening Apple's foundational AI model for some features to third-party developers and offering both its own and OpenAI's code completion tools within its developer software.

If Apple proceeds with outsourcing Siri's core AI capabilities, it would mark a reversal from its original strategy of developing such technologies in-house, where most AI features within its apps are powered by what the company calls Apple Foundation Models. Despite the challenges, Apple's stock saw a 2% rise on the news of these discussions, closing just above $205 on the Monday the report was released. This is notable given the stock had lost nearly a fifth of its value in 2025 so far. Currently, Siri can be used to access ChatGPT with certain iPhone models, indicating a precedent for third-party AI integration.