Apple unveils Siri AI makeover as Tim Cook bids farewell

June 9, 2026 - 06:49

Apple has officially announced a major artificial intelligence upgrade for its voice assistant Siri, marking one of the final product launches under CEO Tim Cook's leadership. The new system, which will roll out in a future software update, promises to make Siri more conversational, context-aware, and capable of handling complex multi-step tasks without requiring users to repeat themselves. The overhaul is part of a broader push by the company to catch up with competitors like Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa, which have long offered more advanced AI features.

Alongside the Siri announcement, Apple introduced a suite of new child safety tools designed to combat the growing threat of "nudification" apps. These applications, which use AI to digitally alter photos of children, have drawn widespread criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups. The new safety features will include enhanced parental controls, real-time alerts when a child attempts to share explicit images, and a system that blurs sensitive content before it is sent. Apple also said it will expand its on-device scanning to detect known child sexual abuse material more effectively, though the company emphasized that privacy protections remain a priority.

The announcements come as Tim Cook prepares to hand over the CEO role to a successor, ending a decade-long tenure that saw Apple's market value soar past $3 trillion. While Cook did not directly address his departure during the event, the product updates signal the company's focus on AI and safety as key pillars for its future. Apple's stock rose slightly in after-hours trading following the news.