Apple’s ‘Veritas’: internal ChatGPT-like app to test Siri’s 2026 overhaul

Apple has reportedly built an internal ChatGPT-style app named Veritas to prototype and test a major update to Siri slated for 2026. The app is designed for employee testing and won’t likely be released publicly in its current form, but it gives Apple a faster way to trial conversational features and actions that tap into personal data on the device.

Key points

• Veritas is an internal chatbot to explore multi-turn, contextual interactions that can access on-device data (emails, messages, photos) and take actions inside apps.
• Apple reportedly delayed the broader Siri revamp from 2025 to 2026 while it refines the tech and partnerships.
• The planned Siri update will combine Apple-built AI models with at least one third-party foundation model; OpenAI, Anthropic and Google have all been mentioned as potential partners.
• Apple’s stated goal with “Apple Intelligence” is to blend useful AI features with strong privacy and a polished UI — but so far the shipped features have fallen short of the original demo.

Why it matters

An internal testing app like Veritas suggests Apple is making progress toward a more capable Siri that understands context and can act on the phone — but using personal data and third-party models raises questions about privacy, data handling, and how Apple will balance convenience with safeguards.

Sources

• AppleInsider — Apple’s secret ‘Veritas’ chatbot could be the key to fixing Siri
• TipRanks / The Fly — Apple internally using ChatGPT-like app to test revamped Siri
• India Today — Apple believes its next-gen AI chatbot is as good as ChatGPT

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