Apple to unveil privacy-focused Siri overhaul at WWDC

Apple is expected to unveil a major overhaul of its Siri digital assistant at its Worldwide Developers Conference next month, emphasizing user privacy as a core feature. The revamp, reportedly delayed from an earlier planned release, will include the launch of a standalone Siri application and new controls over how long conversation data is retained.

According to reports, the new Siri app will function as an artificial intelligence chatbot, similar to services like ChatGPT and Claude, and will serve as a repository for past conversations. A key privacy feature will allow users to configure the app to automatically delete chat histories after set periods, such as 30 days or one year, or to keep them indefinitely. This function is said to be modeled on a similar feature in Apple’s Messages app.

The assistant will be powered by Apple’s own AI models, known as Apple Foundation Models, which will process requests both on-device and through a cloud system Apple calls Private Cloud Compute. This architecture is designed to prevent user data from being stored, logged, or used for advertising when queries are processed remotely. Apple has also partnered with Google to integrate its...