Siri AI finally arrives in iOS 27 beta — but the moment has passed
Apple has released its long-awaited Siri AI upgrade in the iOS 27 consumer beta, delivering many promised features. Yet the launch feels underwhelming because the broader AI field has already moved on to more advanced capabilities.
After multiple delays, Apple's AI-powered Siri is now available to testers in the consumer beta of iOS 27, released in July. The assistant can understand what a user means using personal data stored on the device, answer questions with general knowledge, and find specific information in apps. It is a marked improvement over previous versions.
However, the release lacks the excitement it might have generated years ago. In the time Apple spent catching up, competitors have pushed AI into new territory. AI systems now write code, build software, complete multi-step tasks, and operate computers on behalf of users. A chatbot that can hold a conversation and answer questions is no longer considered a breakthrough.
Siri AI does bring a wide range of useful functions. Users can have natural spoken conversations, adjust the voice's expressiveness and speed, type questions instead of speaking, or use a dedicated Siri app for the first time. The assistant can recall earlier chats and understand personal context to locate photos, emails, contacts, calendar appointments and more. For example, it can retrieve a saved receipt without being told where it is, or read a driver's license number from a photograph. It can also launch websites, control apps, get directions, play music, edit photos, draft emails and handle audiobooks. Siri can now reliably play the requested song or podcast on the user's preferred app. It also acts as a brainstorming partner, helping users refine ideas, explore topics, or suggest recipes from ingredients available at home. Location-based questions, such as when a band is playing nearby, are answered correctly. The camera viewfinder can be used to identify objects and even split a restaurant bill.
Apple developed the new Siri with help from Google, using Gemini models to train and refine Apple's own Foundation Models. These models are built to run on Apple Silicon and the company's Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.
In the end, the new Siri feels less like an innovation and more like Apple finally fixing a feature that should have worked correctly all along. The public will not need to wait long, though: the official iOS 27 release is expected in September.
