Siri’s days as Apple’s default voice assistant may be numbered, as iPhone users in Europe could soon switch to AI alternatives like ChatGPT.Credit : sdx15, Shutterstock
Apple may finally let users replace Siri and it could change everything in Europe
After nearly 15 years of living in our pockets and answering our awkward questions, Siri might be heading for retirement, at least in Europe. Apple is reportedly preparing a major shift that would allow iPhone users to swap Siri for another voice assistant, potentially turning the page on one of the tech giant’s most iconic features.
Why Siri is losing ground to AI-powered voice assistants on iPhone
According to Bloomberg’s well-connected tech journalist Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a feature that would let users choose a different default voice assistant on their iPhones, meaning Siri could be replaced by the likes of ChatGPT, Claude or Perplexity with a single command.
The move isn’t just about user preference. It’s a direct response to Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), a new set of antitrust regulations that’s already forced Apple to make big changes to how its iPhones work across the EU.
This change could be a game-changer. Siri, despite its head start, has long been considered less capable than modern AI assistants. In fact, some users already bypass Siri with external AI tools for daily tasks — from setting reminders to getting smarter, more conversational answers. If those tools become natively integrated, Siri could go from being the face of iPhone AI to a forgotten icon.
Apple prepares for users to switch from Siri to AI alternatives
Let’s be honest: Siri hasn’t aged particularly well. Compared to today’s large language models, Apple’s voice assistant can feel outdated and clunky. Many users find themselves repeating simple commands, waiting too long for responses, or getting vague answers when they need precise help.
By opening the door to real competition, and giving these newer assistants direct access to iPhone settings and features, Apple may be quietly preparing for Siri to fade out. It’s a subtle shift, but a significant one.
What’s telling is that Apple is also working on a ‘new Siri’, reportedly powered by its own large language model. But insiders say this revamped version is being developed separately from the rest of Apple’s AI ecosystem, suggesting that Siri’s future may no longer be as central as it once was.
Siri struggles to stay relevant as Apple faces tough AI competition
This isn’t just a technical update, it’s a symbolic shift. Letting users remove or replace Siri marks a huge departure from Apple’s famously closed approach to software. And while the change is being framed as a compliance move to satisfy EU regulators, it also sends a clear signal: Apple knows it’s behind in the AI game, and it’s finally opening the door, even if that means stepping aside.
For now, Siri still sits front and centre on iPhones. But as AI assistants get smarter, faster and more integrated, it’s not hard to imagine a future where saying ‘Hey Siri’ feels like a thing of the past.
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