Apple Unveils Standalone Siri App and Advanced AI Tools for iOS 27
Apple plans to unveil the biggest Siri redesign in the assistant's nearly 15-year history at its June 8 Worldwide Developers Conference. The rebuilt model uses Google Gemini technology and targets a consumer release as early as September.
The launch follows roughly two years of delays and a $250M settlement, per Engadget. Apple previewed an early version of the new Siri at WWDC 2024. The Information later described it as closer to a concept video than a finished product.
The redesigned Siri interface lives inside the Dynamic Island as an always-on agent, per Bloomberg News. It draws on personal data, web results, and on-screen content.
A second access point lets users swipe down from the top center of the iPhone. This opens a new "Search or Ask" panel for text-based queries and task completion.
From there, users can schedule calendar events, search through notes, start text messages, and use an AI-powered web search tool competing with Perplexity.
Results surface as rich text cards in the Dynamic Island, with an option to swipe further into a full chatbot conversation.
Dedicated Siri App Competes With ChatGPT
Apple is debuting a standalone Siri app for the first time with voice and text input, document and photo uploads, and browsable conversation history.
The company is also testing third-party AI integrations. Alphabet's Gemini and Anthropic's Claude are among the services users may route queries to directly from the new interface.
Siri is moving into the Camera app as a dedicated mode, replacing the existing Visual Intelligence feature. The mode enables photo analysis through third-party AI agents or Google reverse image search.
The Photos app is getting two new AI editing tools, Reframe and Extend. Reframe adjusts perspective, and Extend generates content beyond a photo's original frame, a capability rival platforms have offered for years.
A revamped Shortcuts app will let users build automations through natural language descriptions rather than manual step-by-step workflows.
Tim Cook's Likely Final Major Launch
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman describes the Siri overhaul as likely Tim Cook's final major product release before handing leadership to hardware chief John Ternus.
The outcome will also shape consumer response to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and Apple's first foldable iPhone this fall.
Gurman noted that the final version set for June could differ from what Apple is currently testing internally.
iOS 27 will also refine the Liquid Glass design system introduced in iOS 26, per SlashGear. It adds customizable Wallet passes and a systemwide AI-powered grammar checker.
Apple is racing to close a competitive gap with OpenAI, Google, and Samsung Electronics in AI assistants. The iOS 27 cycle represents its most direct attempt yet at catching up.
