Apple is working on a ChatGPT-like chatbot app, codenamed Veritas, as part of its efforts to revamp Siri. Designed for internal use, the app allows Apple’s AI team to test new features quickly and refine the voice assistant’s long-term capabilities.
Unlike Siri, Veritas functions as a conversational chatbot. It references past chats, follows up on earlier queries, and supports extended back-and-forth exchanges. This setup makes it easier for engineers to experiment without slowing overall development.
Focus on Contextual Search
One of the key goals for Veritas is contextualized searching. Apple wants Siri to pull relevant details from personal data, such as emails, texts, and calendar events, to deliver more tailored results. This shift could make Siri more competitive with rivals like Google Assistant and ChatGPT-powered tools.
The company’s broader AI project, Apple Intelligence, has faced setbacks. Notification summaries rolled out with iOS updates had glitches, leading Apple to scale them back. These issues underscored the challenge of building reliable, user-friendly AI features.
Leadership Shake-Up
Apple originally planned to launch the new Siri in March 2025 alongside iOS 18.4. However, delays pushed the rollout indefinitely, frustrating users and industry watchers. To regain momentum, Apple reassigned leadership. Former Siri chief John Giannandrea was replaced by Mike Rockwell, who had led development of the Apple Vision Pro.
With Rockwell at the helm, Apple hopes Veritas will accelerate progress and bring a more capable Siri to users by 2026.
Looking Ahead
Apple has not confirmed whether Veritas will ever reach consumers, but insiders believe it could lay the foundation for Siri’s future. If successful, the chatbot approach may finally help Apple close the gap with competitors in the fast-moving AI space.
