Apple on Monday debuted a beta version of its redesigned Siri artificial intelligence assistant as part of the new iOS 27 software update. The release precedes the store launch of the iPhone 18 lineup, which is scheduled for later this week.
The updated Siri experience is currently in beta, requiring users to manually opt in through the device’s settings. Depending on demand, some individuals may need to join a waitlist to gain access to the feature. During last week’s iPhone launch event, Apple CEO John Ternus described the technology as “personal intelligence that’s actually personal.” This statement marked Ternus’s first appearance at a product launch since he succeeded Tim Cook as chief executive on September 1.
Apple is marketing the new iPhone 18 models as particularly suited for AI tasks due to their high-performance processors and the abundance of personal data they hold, such as text messages and calendar entries. The company emphasized that the iPhone serves as a central hub for an ecosystem of intelligent features that operate seamlessly across its product range.
The assistant utilizes large language models to navigate local personal data, enabling it to locate addresses, recipes, and instructions within a user’s texts, emails, and schedules. It also retains the ability to answer general inquiries and conduct web searches. A new Siri app allows users to save previous queries, and the interface now supports a more conversational flow by letting users reply directly to the assistant’s responses.
Compared to frontier AI systems offered by competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google, Apple relies on smaller proprietary models designed to run directly on device chips. For more complex requests, the company employs a Private Cloud Compute system that leverages Google Cloud infrastructure equipped with Nvidia and Intel chips. Additionally, Apple is incorporating Google’s Gemini technology into the development of its own models.
The rollout follows a delayed timeline; Apple originally unveiled the Siri AI initiative in June, after delaying improvements initially announced in 2024 to 2026. The company warned that certain cloud-dependent features may face daily usage caps, with unlimited access potentially requiring a future subscription fee. Usage limits will vary based on factors such as system demand and request complexity.
Siri AI is currently available only in English, with support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish planned for next month. Due to regulatory considerations, the service will not be available in the European Union or China at launch.
In other developments from the launch event, Apple unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. Industry analysts noted that the company aims to sell as many units as its manufacturing supply chain can support during the first six months on the market.
Daily usage caps are a huge red flag. Is this what we’re paying premium prices for? Seems like a subscription trap.
I’ve been waiting years for Siri to actually understand me. Hope the on-device processing is faster this time around!