iOS 27 brings Siri back to life — and people are actually using it

Apple has rolled out iOS 27, an update centered on a rebuilt version of Siri. After repeated delays, the assistant is now built on Google's Gemini models rather than its previous, shaky ChatGPT integration, and comes with a new logo and transition animation.

Siri can now handle complex, multistep tasks — such as finding useful hidden iOS 27 features and adding them to a note, drafting and sending a message, or pulling context from a user's files, messages, and email. It can also answer questions about on-screen content, from sports scores to details found on a website.

The Camera app has also gained Siri access, letting users ask about objects in their viewfinder — such as identifying a drink or suggesting menu items from a photographed restaurant sign. Siri now has its own dedicated app showing previous chats, and its voice can be adjusted in Settings.

Other Apple Intelligence features in iOS 27 include a natural-language tool for building Shortcuts automations, Safari alerts for tracking changes to web pages, improved photo-editing tools in the Photos app, and a Passwords app that can automatically change passwords on a user's behalf.

Additional updates include a new clipboard feature for easily pasting content between apps, adjustable transparency for the Liquid Glass design, intelligent switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, and expanded child-safety tools, including parental controls and warnings about inappropriate content.

iOS 27 is available to all users with an iPhone 11 or later, as well as the second-generation iPhone SE, and can be downloaded through Settings.