Apple is reportedly sending a group of Siri engineers to a multi-week AI coding bootcamp as it works to speed up development of its long-delayed next-generation assistant. The move comes at a time when AI-assisted programming has become standard across much of the software industry, reshaping how engineers write and ship code.
The bootcamp is expected to focus on practical use of AI coding tools such as Anthropic’s Claude Code and OpenAI’s Codex. These tools are increasingly being used to generate, review, and optimize code, reducing development cycles and increasing output for engineering teams. Apple’s decision suggests it is aligning Siri development more closely with these new workflows.
The training reportedly includes fewer than 200 Siri engineers. Within this group, Apple is restructuring responsibilities during the bootcamp period. Around 60 engineers are expected to remain focused on core Siri development, while another 60 will be assigned to evaluate Siri’s performance, including response quality, task execution, and safety compliance. This split indicates a more structured push toward both development and validation as Apple prepares for a major Siri update.
The timing is notable. Apple has been working on a more context-aware version of Siri since WWDC 2024, but the rollout has faced delays due to technical and reliability challenges. The upgrade is now expected to align more closely with Apple’s broader Apple Intelligence strategy, which has also evolved over the past year.
AI coding tools have already started to influence internal workflows across Apple. Reports suggest that some teams have shifted significant portions of their engineering budgets toward tools like Claude Code. Apple has also been updating its own development ecosystem, with newer versions of Xcode introducing support for more agent-like coding assistance.
Leadership changes have also shaped the direction of Siri’s development. The Siri team now operates under Mike Rockwell, known for leading the Apple Vision Pro project. Apple’s AI direction is also being influenced by Craig Federighi, with Amar Subramanya stepping in as vice president of AI. Former AI chief John Giannandrea has already transitioned out of his leadership role.
On the technical side, Apple is also expected to rely on external model support for parts of its AI stack, including Google’s Gemini models. This would allow Siri to handle more complex, multi-step requests and shift closer to a conversational assistant experience similar to modern AI chat systems.
If current timelines hold, Apple is expected to preview the revamped Siri at WWDC 2026 on June 8, with broader availability arriving later across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. The bootcamp signals that Apple is still actively rebuilding its engineering approach behind the scenes as it prepares for that release.
(via The Information)
