Preview: Siri is finally getting the AI makeover Apple promised long ago

Apple is preparing a sweeping overhaul of Siri and its artificial intelligence features for iOS 27, the next major iPhone software update. Two detailed reports by Jason Cross for Macworld and MacRumors outline what is coming when the update launches in September 2026.

The changes to Siri represent the biggest transformation of Apple’s voice assistant since it was introduced in 2011. Apple had originally planned to deliver a major Siri update with iOS 18, but development problems pushed those plans back. iOS 27 is now the target.

Siri becomes a full chatbot

The redesigned Siri will supposedly function like a full conversational chatbot, similar to ChatGPT or Claude. Users will be able to type or speak questions, continue previous conversations, and receive answers with links and images. A dedicated standalone Siri app will store chat history, allow users to search past conversations, and support file attachments. Conversations will look like iMessage chats, with chat bubbles and suggested prompts for new sessions.

The new Siri is being built on a foundation model developed in collaboration with Google’s Gemini team. Apple is also testing models from Anthropic alongside its existing OpenAI integration. Users will be able to choose which AI services they want Siri to use through a new “Extensions” section in the Settings app.

The visual design of Siri is changing as well. Activating Siri via the wake word or side button will trigger a pill-shaped animation in the Dynamic Island. A swipe down from the top center of the screen will open a “Search or Ask” bar. Swiping further will open the full Siri chat interface. Apple is currently testing a dark-mode-only design for the new interface.

What the new Siri will be able to do (allegedly)

• Read and summarize emails, messages, and files to answer personal questions
• Recognize what is on the screen and take action based on it
• Search the web and summarize results
• Generate images using the Image Playground feature
• Create Shortcuts using plain language descriptions
• Control device settings and search for on-device content, replacing Spotlight
• Work within Apple apps including Mail, Messages, Photos, and Xcode

Apple is also expanding its broader Apple Intelligence feature set. The Photos app will gain three new AI editing tools called Extend, Enhance, and Reframe. Extend fills in scenery beyond the original image frame. Reframe changes the perspective of spatial photos after capture. Writing Tools will gain a grammar checker and become easier to find across the operating system.

The Camera app is getting a dedicated Siri mode alongside existing modes like Panorama and Slow-Mo. In this mode, Visual Intelligence will be able to scan nutrition labels for calorie tracking, read business cards to add contacts, and capture physical tickets for the Wallet app.

Privacy remains a stated priority for Apple. Users will be able to set chat history to auto-delete after 30 days, one year, or never. Apple says it will also place limits on what personal information Siri can retain and for how long.

For developers, Apple plans to introduce a new Core AI framework that replaces the existing Core ML framework, making it easier to integrate AI models into third-party apps.

Apple is expected to preview iOS 27 at its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote on June 8, 2026. The final release is scheduled for September 2026.

Sources

• iOS 27: Everything we know about the fall 2026 iPhone update – Macworld
• iOS 27: Everything We Know – MacRumors