Apple’s Siri boss admits to ‘ugly’ and embarassing AI delays during all-hands meeting: report

New York Post - Mar 17th, 2025
Open on New York Post

A top Apple executive, Robby Walker, acknowledged an 'ugly' delay in the release of an AI-enhanced version of Siri due to persistent bugs and glitches, causing embarrassment among the AI team. This postponement has raised concerns about Apple's ability to keep pace with its Big Tech competitors in the AI domain. Despite the setbacks, Walker praised the team's efforts, highlighting the impressive features they have developed, which are expected to significantly enhance Siri's capabilities once released. Originally scheduled for a rollout this spring, the overhaul will not be available until next year at the earliest, leaving some team members feeling burnt out.

The delay has broader implications for Apple, as the company's future strategy heavily relies on integrating AI into its products, with upcoming iPhone iterations expected to capitalize on these advancements. The issues with Siri began shortly after the launch of Apple Intelligence last fall, when AI-generated summaries incorrectly cited fake news alerts. Apple had billed the new AI capabilities as a 'game changer,' with the announcement driving its stock to an all-time high. However, Apple's shares have since declined by nearly 13% amid broader market challenges, reflecting the pressure on the company to resolve these technical issues and maintain its competitive edge.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.8
Fair Story
Consider it well-founded

The article provides a detailed account of the challenges faced by Apple's Siri AI project, highlighting internal delays and competitive pressures. It effectively communicates the main issues and maintains clarity throughout the narrative. However, the story could benefit from a more balanced perspective by incorporating diverse viewpoints and providing deeper insights into the technical and strategic aspects of the delays. While the story is timely and relevant, its impact is somewhat limited by the lack of comprehensive analysis and transparency regarding the sources and methods used. Overall, the article is informative and accessible, but there is room for improvement in terms of source quality and balance to enhance its credibility and engagement potential.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story presents several claims that appear to be based on information from internal sources and a Bloomberg report. The mention of Robby Walker's comments about the 'ugly' delay and employee sentiments are specific and detailed. However, verification of these claims would require direct quotes or recordings of Walker's remarks. The story also discusses Siri's AI performance issues, stating that one-third of responses are incorrect, which would need internal data or independent testing to confirm. The report on Apple's stock performance and market impact is factual but could benefit from more detailed financial analysis to attribute the decline specifically to Siri's issues. Overall, while the story provides a coherent narrative, some claims require further substantiation.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the negative aspects of Apple's AI project delays, emphasizing internal challenges and competitive pressures. While it does mention Walker's praise for the team's work on impressive features, the overall tone leans towards highlighting the setbacks. The piece lacks perspectives from other stakeholders, such as Apple executives or industry analysts, which could provide a more balanced view of the situation. Including insights into Apple's strategic responses or comparisons with competitors' challenges would have offered a broader perspective.

8
Clarity

The story is generally clear and well-structured, with a logical flow of information. It effectively communicates the main issues surrounding Apple's AI delays and the internal and external pressures faced by the company. The language is straightforward, making the article accessible to a broad audience. However, the narrative could be enhanced by providing more context on the technical aspects of Siri's AI features and how they compare to competitors, which would offer a deeper understanding of the challenges involved.

7
Source quality

The story cites Bloomberg as a source, which is generally considered a reliable and authoritative outlet. However, the article could benefit from additional sources to corroborate the claims, such as direct statements from Apple or independent experts in AI technology. The reliance on unnamed employees for insights into internal sentiments raises questions about the depth of the source variety and potential biases. Providing more diverse sources would enhance the credibility and reliability of the information presented.

6
Transparency

The article provides some context regarding the delays and challenges faced by Apple's AI team, but it lacks detailed explanations of the methodology behind the claims. For instance, the basis for the one-third error rate in Siri's responses is not clearly explained. Additionally, the story does not disclose any potential conflicts of interest or biases in its reporting. Greater transparency about the sources and methods used to gather information would improve the reader's understanding of the article's foundation.

Sources

  1. https://www.gizchina.com/2025/03/17/enhanced-siri-ai/
  2. https://acecomments.mu.nu/?post=395453Requirements