Apple's long-delayed Siri AI has landed in the consumer beta of iOS 27, which launched in July. The assistant now understands personal context, taps into broad world knowledge, and surfaces relevant information stored on the iPhone. It feels functional and fairly impressive. Yet the launch feels anticlimactic because the AI race has surged ahead while Apple dawdled for months and years.
The new Siri allows natural back-and-forth conversations with adjustable expressivity and pacing of voice responses. For the first time, users can type to Siri or use it through a dedicated app, referencing past conversations. The assistant can find photos, emails, contacts, texts, or calendar appointments even when the user is unsure of specifics. For example, Siri can pull up the last receipt saved on the iPhone without the user knowing where it was stored or what it was for.
What the New Siri Can Actually Do
Siri can retrieve information from photos, such as a Driver's License number from a picture or a QR code from a screenshot. It can launch websites and use apps for directions, music, photo editing, email drafting, audiobooks, and more. The assistant consistently and accurately plays the requested song, podcast, or audiobook on the preferred app. That is a low bar, but one where Siri previously stumbled.
The assistant can also brainstorm, refine ideas, learn about new topics, and explore recipes, such as suggesting something from random fridge ingredients. It answers questions about events or band performances based on location. Users can point the Camera's viewfinder at real-world objects to learn about them or split a restaurant bill. Siri AI is exactly what users always hoped Siri would be.
The only marvel is that Siri actually works after years of failing. Apple had multiple rounds of delays for Siri AI. The company has dawdled on AI for months and years. During that time, the AI industry advanced significantly. AI tools today are coding, building software, completing multi-step tasks, working alongside users, reasoning, thinking, remembering, and creating media. Being a functional chatbot or AI helper is no longer a breakthrough.
Apple's Secret Weapon: Google's Gemini
These improvements were made possible by Apple's partnership with Google for use of Gemini AI models. Apple used Google's technology to train and refine its own proprietary Apple Foundation Models. Apple did not just slap its name on Gemini AI. The company used Google's technology to train its own models. Those Apple Foundation Models run on Apple's own Silicon and Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.
The general public gains access to the new Siri when iOS 27 officially releases, expected in September. That timeline follows a beta that arrived in July. The delay between beta and official release gives Apple time to polish the experience. But the industry has already moved past simple chatbots. Siri AI delivered on Apple's promises and then some. Yet the launch feels more like fixing a longstanding bug than a revolutionary moment.
Sarah Perez, Consumer News Editor at TechCrunch, wrote the article covering the launch. She has been a TechCrunch reporter since August 2011. Before that, she spent over three years at ReadWriteWeb. Her background includes work in I.T. across banking, retail, and software. She can be reached at sarahp@techcrunch.com or via Signal at sarahperez.01.
Why the Launch Feels Anticlimactic
The AI industry has surged ahead during Apple's delay. Tools now handle complex, multi-step tasks and work alongside users in real time. They reason, think, remember, and create media. A functional chatbot is no longer a breakthrough. Siri AI is valuable and useful despite the anticlimactic feel. The improvements are significant and deliver on Apple's promises. The partnership with Google was crucial for training Apple's own models.
The launch feels more like a bug fix than a revolutionary moment. Siri AI's functionality is what Siri was meant to be all along. The assistant finally understands personal context and world knowledge. It can hold natural conversations and retrieve information from photos and documents. It can launch apps and play media correctly. These are the features users have wanted for years.
The only marvel is that Siri actually works after years of failing. Apple had multiple rounds of delays for Siri AI. The company has dawdled on AI for months and years. During that time, the AI industry advanced significantly. AI tools today are coding, building software, completing multi-step tasks, working alongside users, reasoning, thinking, remembering, and creating media. Being a functional chatbot or AI helper is no longer a breakthrough.
Stay ahead of the AI curve
The most important updates, news, and content — delivered weekly.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What Comes Next for Siri AI
The official release of iOS 27 is expected in September. That will bring the new Siri to the general public. The beta has already shown what the assistant can do. Users can type to Siri or use it through a dedicated app. They can reference past conversations. The assistant can find photos, emails, contacts, texts, or calendar appointments. It can pull up receipts, retrieve Driver's License numbers, and read QR codes from screenshots.
Siri can launch websites and use apps for directions, music, photo editing, email drafting, audiobooks, and more. It can brainstorm, refine ideas, learn about new topics, and explore recipes. It answers questions about events or band performances based on location. Users can point the Camera's viewfinder at real-world objects to learn about them or split a restaurant bill.
The assistant consistently and accurately plays the requested song, podcast, or audiobook on the preferred app. That is a low bar, but one where Siri previously stumbled. Siri AI is exactly what users always hoped Siri would be. The only marvel is that Siri actually works after years of failing.
Apple's partnership with Google for Gemini AI models was key. Apple used Google's technology to train and refine its own proprietary Apple Foundation Models. Those models run on Apple's own Silicon and Private Cloud Compute infrastructure. Apple did not just slap its name on Gemini AI. The company used Google's technology to train its own models.
A Useful Assistant, Not a Revolution
Siri AI is valuable and useful despite the anticlimactic feel. The improvements are significant and deliver on Apple's promises. The partnership with Google was crucial for training Apple's own models. The launch feels more like a bug fix than a revolutionary moment. Siri AI's functionality is what Siri was meant to be all along.
The AI industry has moved beyond simple chatbots. Tools now code, build software, complete multi-step tasks, and work alongside users. They reason, think, remember, and create media. Being a functional chatbot or AI helper is no longer a breakthrough. Siri AI arrived after the AI industry moved beyond simple chatbots.
Sarah Perez has been a TechCrunch reporter since August 2011. She previously worked at ReadWriteWeb for over three years. Her background includes I.T. work in banking, retail, and software. She can be contacted at sarahp@techcrunch.com or via Signal at sarahperez.01.
TechCrunch Disrupt takes place October 13-15 in San Francisco. Attendees can save up to $330 on registration. The event will feature discussions on the latest in technology and AI. The article also includes an affiliate links disclosure, noting TechCrunch may earn a commission.
The general public gains access to the new Siri when iOS 27 officially releases, expected in September. That follows the beta launch in July. The new Siri understands personal context, taps into broad world knowledge, and surfaces relevant information stored on the iPhone. It allows natural back-and-forth conversations with adjustable expressivity and pacing of voice responses. Users can type to Siri or use it via a dedicated app for the first time, referencing past conversations.
Siri can find photos, emails, contacts, texts, or calendar appointments even when the user is unsure of specifics. It can pull up the last receipt saved on the iPhone without knowing where it was stored or what it was for. It can retrieve a Driver's License number from a pic or a QR code from a screenshot. It can launch websites and use apps for directions, music, photo editing, email drafting, audiobooks, and more.
The assistant consistently and accurately plays the requested song, podcast, or audiobook on the preferred app. That is a low bar, but one where Siri previously stumbled. Siri AI is exactly what users always hoped Siri would be. The only marvel is that Siri actually works after years of failing.