Overview

• Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that some Apple engineers and internal testers are concerned about the assistant’s performance in early test versions.
• iOS 26.4 is expected in March or April 2026, giving Apple roughly five to six months to address issues, with some coverage noting the timeline could slip if problems persist.
• Apple previously delayed the assistant’s debut after concluding the original design fell short, with Craig Federighi saying it required a V2 rearchitecture for a 2026 launch.
• The planned capabilities include on‑screen awareness, use of personal context, and the ability to take actions within apps as part of Apple Intelligence.
• Reporting describes a continuing technical ‘bake‑off’ between on‑device models and a cloud option using Google’s Gemini, alongside departures from AI teams and leadership reshuffling that increase execution risk.