Apple plans to rebuild Siri as a full chatbot codenamed Campos, to be unveiled at WWDC 2026
Jan 22, 2026
Key Points
- Apple is replacing Siri with a generative AI chatbot codenamed Campos, launching at WWDC 2026 across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS with voice and text support.
- The move signals Apple's retreat from its 2024 strategy of embedding AI in existing apps, after Apple Intelligence stumbled with delayed, underwhelming features.
- John Ternus, Apple's chief hardware technologies officer, gained oversight of both hardware and software design teams, positioning him as a potential CEO successor.
Summary
Apple is revamping Siri into a generative AI chatbot codenamed Campos, set to debut at WWDC in June 2026. The new assistant will be deeply embedded across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, replacing the current Siri interface. Users will summon Campos by voice command or side-button press, with support for both voice and text interaction. Current Siri operates on voice only.
Campos represents Apple's most direct response to the generative AI race led by OpenAI and Google. For years Apple dismissed standalone chat interfaces, arguing instead that AI should be woven into existing apps like writing tools, photo editing, and notification summaries. That strategy has struggled. Apple Intelligence had a rocky 2024 rollout with underwhelming features and delays, and the company has lost ground to rivals with more mature chatbot offerings.
Apple will release a conventional Siri update in iOS 18.4 in the coming months that adds on-screen content analysis, personal data access, and improved web search. These capabilities were originally promised for 2024. The chatbot version follows later in the year. Internally, Apple is testing Campos as a standalone app similar to ChatGPT or Gemini, but will not ship that version to customers. Instead it plans to integrate the technology across its operating systems, betting that deep system-level integration beats consumer chat apps.
Apple's model choice remains unclear from public reports, though transcripts indicate the company is using Google's Gemini. Whether Campos can handle long responses, maintain conversation history, and integrate cleanly with iPhone and Mac workflows will likely determine its appeal relative to dedicated chatbot apps. A deeper risk exists in the interaction model itself. Pressing a button to summon a chatbot and get a response may limit utility compared to apps designed from the ground up for chat-based exploration.
Apple shares climbed 1.7% on the news.
Leadership signal
John Ternus, Apple's chief hardware technologies officer, was quietly given oversight of both hardware and software design teams at year-end. This is the first signal he is being groomed for eventual CEO succession. Ternus has delivered on hardware roadmaps and is seen as competent by observers, though the path to the top job remains unclear and appears contingent on execution.