Apple Opens AI-Powered Siri to Public Beta Users With iOS 27

Apple has expanded access to its redesigned AI assistant by releasing the iOS 27 public beta, allowing a wider group of users to test the new version of Siri before the software's broader rollout expected later this fall. The release marks the first time Apple's latest Siri experience has been made available beyond developers.

Apple Intelligence powers the updated assistant and represents the company’s most significant overhaul of Siri since its introduction. Apple previously unveiled the new features during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

Apple Siri AI Brings Deeper System Integration

The new Siri is designed to perform more advanced tasks by accessing information stored on a user’s device, including emails, photos and messages. It can also understand content displayed on the screen and answer questions using broader world knowledge, placing it alongside modern AI chatbot experiences.

Users can activate Siri by saying “Hey Siri,” pressing the iPhone’s side button or swiping down from the Dynamic Island. Apple has also integrated the assistant into Spotlight, enabling users to search for information and answers from the system-wide search interface.

New Features Extend Across Apple’s Device Ecosystem

For the first time, Apple has introduced Siri as a standalone application in addition to its built-in system integration. The updated assistant is also available on supported iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay, AirPods, Apple TV and Vision Pro devices running the latest software.

Under the hood, Siri uses Apple Intelligence, including Apple’s Foundation Models, which operate both on-device and through Private Cloud Compute. According to Apple, the Foundation Models were developed for Apple Silicon using proprietary data while incorporating model distillation techniques based on Google’s Gemini technology. Apple also says Private Cloud Compute is designed so personal user data is not stored or accessible by the company.

Developer Testing Showed Stronger Every Day Capabilities

Earlier developer testing demonstrated improvements in several everyday tasks. Siri was able to locate photos, summarise group conversations, add calendar appointments from text messages and identify nutritional information from objects viewed through the camera. It also handled a wider range of general knowledge questions that previously required a web search.

Developer testing also revealed occasional errors and instances where Siri misunderstood requests, indicating that the software remains under active refinement. Even so, the developer beta has generally been stable, making the public beta more accessible for users who want early access.

Public Beta Still Carries Typical Software Risks

Although Apple has expanded the availability of the new Siri, installing beta software still carries the possibility of bugs or unexpected behaviour. Users who rely on their devices for uninterrupted daily use may prefer to wait until the expected public release of iOS 27 in September.