Siri is set for a major AI transformation with the upcoming iOS 26.4 update expected next spring, fulfilling the AI voice assistant vision Apple introduced at WWDC 2024. Though this timeline is tentative and subject to change, it marks a significant step toward a more powerful and intelligent Siri. Earlier this year, some feature delays happened, so Apple could still adjust its schedule.
An exciting addition coming sooner is that some iPhone users in Japan will be able to replace Siri with alternative voice assistants like Gemini, a more advanced AI tool. This option will arrive with the iOS 26.2 update but will be limited geographically and subject to important conditions.
First, the ability to swap Siri for another assistant applies only in Japan due to new regulations that require smartphone manufacturers to allow competing services on their devices. This legal framework compels Apple to open up the iPhone’s virtual assistant functionality to third-party apps in that region.
Second, switching from Siri to a different assistant like Gemini won’t be as simple as toggling a setting. Instead, app developers must enable this capability within their apps. For example, Google would need to integrate Gemini voice assistant support into one of its existing iPhone apps to make it a potential default. Only then could users select that alternative assistant for invocation.
How New Voice Assistants Work on iPhone
The iOS 26.2 beta 3 revealed the first signs of Apple preparing to support third-party voice assistants in Japan. This functionality centers around the iPhone’s Side Button, which traditionally activates Siri with a long press. Once the official iOS 26.2 version is released, the Side Button long-press can be configured to launch a different voice assistant app, provided the app supports this feature.
While users in Japan will gain the ability to choose a new default assistant triggered by the Side Button, it’s not yet clear whether voice commands can invoke a third-party assistant directly. Also, it remains uncertain if Siri voice activation will still work when a different assistant is set as default via the Side Button.
This change aligns with new regulations under Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act, which mandates tech companies like Apple to provide equal access to core iPhone functions, including voice assistants, and prohibits preferential treatment of Apple’s own services. The new rules come into effect in December, explaining the timing for Apple’s iOS update that introduces these options.
Broader Context
The move to allow third-party voice assistants is not unexpected. In May, indications surfaced that iPhone users in the European Union might be granted similar options as part of regulatory efforts to increase competition and choice. Currently, Siri remains the default voice assistant in the EU, but ongoing regulatory pressure suggests changes could come in the future.
