Apple Introduces New Siri App with Customizable Chat History Settings

Starting June 8 at WWDC 2026, Apple will unveil a redesigned Siri app that lets users decide the duration their chat history is retained. The new app will provide three options for conversation retention: automatic deletion after 30 days, after one year, or indefinite storage. This approach aligns with how iMessage currently manages message history, offering a familiar experience for iPhone users.

Alongside these retention choices, the app will include a toggle allowing users to determine whether Siri carries context across conversations or treats each interaction as separate. This feature aims to give users more control over their privacy and interaction flow.

Privacy Focus and User Trust

Apple’s move follows the $95 million settlement related to unintended Siri activations in 2024, which had impacted user confidence. By allowing users to manage their conversation data directly, Apple addresses privacy concerns head-on. Unlike many AI services, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT that retains conversations for 30 days by default, Apple emphasizes the use of synthetic data over real user exchanges for training its models. This strategy may slow feature development but is positioned as a privacy advantage.

Apple’s approach contrasts with competitors by embedding privacy options directly into the system rather than hiding them in settings menus. This shift reflects growing skepticism in the US about AI data handling and aims to rebuild trust after the Siri settlement revealed inadvertent recordings of private conversations.

Feature Enhancements and Release Timeline

The updated Siri app will also introduce conversation history and file upload capabilities, bringing it closer to the functionality offered by ChatGPT. According to 9to5Mac, this version will launch in beta at WWDC, with a broader public release scheduled alongside iOS 27 in the fall of 2026.

The beta testing phase will provide insight into whether the enhanced privacy controls and new features can compete with rivals in terms of AI performance. The outcome of this period will likely influence user adoption when iOS 27 becomes widely available.