Apple’s Secret AI Project: Inside “Veritas” and the Revamped Siri

Apple is quietly working on a big leap forward for Siri—and the project sounds like something straight out of a tech thriller. According to a new report from Bloomberg, the company has built its own internal ChatGPT-like app, code-named Veritas, to test a completely overhauled version of its voice assistant.

So, what exactly is Veritas? Think of it as Apple’s in-house chatbot. Employees use it to stress-test the “new Siri,” playing with features like searching through personal data (songs, emails, and more) or even performing in-app actions such as photo editing. It’s not for the public—at least not yet—but it gives Apple’s engineers a sandbox to quickly see what’s working and what needs fixing.

The Brains Behind the Overhaul

The app is just the testing tool. The real magic is happening under the hood with a system codenamed Linwood. This backbone relies on Apple’s own foundation models mixed with a third-party AI model. The stakes are high: Siri has often lagged behind Alexa, Google Assistant, and now the explosion of generative AI. Apple doesn’t want to miss the wave.

Unfortunately, the road hasn’t been smooth. Advanced Siri features—like deep integration with personal data and smarter task handling—were pushed back until at least March 2026 after engineering setbacks. That delay triggered a leadership shake-up inside Apple’s AI division.

A New Leadership Chapter

Robby Walker, who used to lead Siri, is leaving the company in October. But before heading out, he set up a new internal group called Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI). This “secret team” is now in charge of developing AI-powered search features—essentially making Siri not just a voice assistant, but a smart, reliable source of knowledge.

Partnerships and Power Moves

Apple is also shopping for outside help. The company has reportedly held talks with OpenAI and Anthropic, and more recently ramped up discussions with Google to potentially integrate Gemini, Google’s flagship AI platform.

At a recent all-hands meeting, CEO Tim Cook rallied employees by saying the AI revolution was “ours to grab.” But don’t expect Apple to release a standalone chatbot anytime soon. In June, software chief Craig Federighi was clear: chasing the public chatbot market “remains not our primary goal.”

What This Means for You

If you’re an iPhone user, the long game is exciting. Siri could finally become the intelligent, proactive assistant Apple promised back in 2011. Imagine asking Siri to find a specific photo, draft an email, or summarize a document—and actually getting a useful answer.

But patience is key. The rebuilt Siri, powered by Linwood and shaped by Veritas, won’t land until at least 2026. In the meantime, Apple is laying the groundwork to make sure when Siri’s big comeback arrives, it’s worth the wait.

Takeaway: Apple’s keeping things close to the chest, but the pieces are coming together. Between Veritas, Linwood, AKI, and possible Google Gemini integration, the Siri of the future could finally live up to the hype.