Apple has completely rebuilt Siri from the ground up. The company introduced Siri AI, an entirely new version powered by Apple Intelligence that can understand personal context, search the web for current information, and work more naturally across all Apple devices.
This represents Apple’s biggest update to its voice assistant since Siri’s original launch in 2011. The new version can dig through your personal messages, emails, and photos to find information, while also tapping into web knowledge to answer questions about current events. It’s Apple’s answer to more capable AI assistants from Google and OpenAI that have emerged in recent years.
What makes Siri AI different
The new Siri AI can handle much more complex requests by understanding context from your personal data. You can ask it to find a restaurant recommendation a friend texted you about, pull up a hotel confirmation number from an old email, or show photos from a recent trip with family.
Key capabilities include:
- Personal context understanding across messages, emails, photos, and apps
- Web search for up-to-date information on virtually any topic
- Onscreen awareness to answer questions about what you’re looking at
- Natural conversation with follow-up questions
- Cross-device synchronization of conversation history
Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, said the new assistant can “help users take action across apps more naturally than ever” with access to both personal information and broad world knowledge.
Privacy-focused architecture
Apple rebuilt Siri using a new architecture designed around privacy protection. The system uses Apple’s next-generation Foundation Models that run both on-device and on servers through Private Cloud Compute.
When Siri needs to use Apple’s servers, your personal data isn’t stored or made accessible to Apple or anyone else. Outside experts can verify this privacy promise at any time, Apple says. Core capabilities like searching through your personal information work entirely on-device to keep you in control of your data.
New ways to interact with Siri
Siri AI works across all Apple devices with different interaction methods for each platform:
- iPhone: Say “Hey Siri,” use the side button, or swipe down from Dynamic Island
- iPad and Mac: Integrated into Spotlight search and context menus
- Apple Vision Pro: 3D visualization you can place anywhere and activate by looking at it
- Apple Watch: Start conversations from your wrist or through Smart Stack suggestions
A new dedicated Siri app lets you revisit past conversations across all your devices. The app syncs your conversation history through iCloud, so you can start chatting on your Mac and continue on your iPhone.
Visual intelligence expands beyond iPhone
Siri’s visual capabilities now work across iPad, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro for the first time. You can ask questions about images, take screenshots to get information, or use keyboard shortcuts to select content and ask Siri about it.
On iPhone, a new Siri mode in the Camera app lets you point your phone at objects to get information and take actions. This includes practical features like splitting a bill with friends using Apple Cash or getting nutritional information about food.
Enhanced writing tools everywhere
Siri AI includes improved writing assistance that works virtually anywhere you type. You can describe what you need and Siri will generate a first draft, then refine it based on your feedback.
The system learns how you communicate with different people. If you usually send your manager brief bullet points, Siri will match that style when drafting emails. It also provides automatic proofreading as you type across the system, including in third-party apps.
When you can use it
Siri AI is available for developer testing starting today across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27. It will reach beta testing for regular users later this year, initially in English with more languages coming quickly after.
The new features require newer Apple devices:
- iPhone 16 models or later, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPad mini with A17 Pro, iPad models with M1 or later
- Mac with M1 or later, MacBook Neo with A18 Pro
- Apple Vision Pro
- Apple Watch Series 9 or later, Apple Watch Ultra 2 or later
There are some regional limitations. EU users won’t initially get Siri AI on iOS and iPadOS while Apple works through regulatory requirements, though Mac, Apple Watch, and Vision Pro will work there. The features won’t be available in China while Apple handles regulatory approval.
