App Intents overhaul could turn Siri into the ultimate iPhone power tool

Apple is preparing a major leap for Siri that could finally deliver on the voice assistant’s original promise: letting users control almost any app entirely hands-free, according to Bloomberg. At the heart of this push is an overhauled version of App Intents, the framework that allows developers to expose specific features of their apps to Siri, Spotlight, and Shortcuts.

Sources say the upgrade will allow Siri to go far beyond setting timers or sending texts. With nothing but a spoken command, users could search for a photo, edit it, and send it to a contact; comment on a post in a social app; browse a shopping site and add items to a cart; or log in to a service — all without touching the screen. In effect, Siri would be able to operate apps the same way a human user would, but faster and more seamlessly.

Testing is already underway with popular apps like Uber, AllTrails, Threads, Temu, Amazon, YouTube, Facebook, WhatsApp, and Apple’s own software. Apple is also weighing how to handle sensitive categories such as health and banking, where it may limit or block Siri’s access to reduce the risk of errors.

The company’s internal teams view App Intents as a cornerstone for its next wave of hardware, including a smart display expected in 2026 and a tabletop home robot in development. Without robust voice control across third-party apps, those devices could suffer the same limitations that plagued early Amazon and Google smart home products.

Apple first showcased a version of this capability at WWDC 2024, promising a Siri that could pull data from across apps and personal content to create rich, multi-step responses. However, development delays and accuracy concerns pushed the rollout to spring 2026, alongside a broader Siri infrastructure overhaul. Engineers are now racing to ensure the feature works reliably across a wide range of apps and can handle high-stakes commands without error.

If Apple succeeds, this could be the most transformative update to Siri since its debut nearly 15 years ago — delivering not just a smarter assistant, but a voice-first interface for the entire iPhone experience. For users, it might feel less like talking to a search box and more like giving instructions to a truly capable digital aide.