Apple's AI Siri Likely to Launch in iOS 27 Only as a Beta

May 18, 2026, 2:33 pm | Read time: 3 minutes

With iOS 27, Apple aims to fundamentally modernize Siri and position it more as an AI assistant. However, according to a report, the new Siri will initially launch only as a beta–a sign that the overhaul is not yet fully complete.

Apple Completely Overhauls Siri

Siri has been a staple of the iPhone for years, but in everyday use, it often seems significantly more limited than modern AI chatbots. Simple tasks like timers, weather inquiries, or reminders work reliably, but Apple’s voice assistant quickly reaches its limits with more complex requests. This is precisely what is set to change with iOS 27. Apple is reportedly working on a new generation of Siri that will respond more intelligently and function more like an AI assistant.

At launch, however, the new Siri might still seem unfinished. According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to offer the revamped version initially only as a beta. This would signal that the new technology is to be further improved in everyday use. At the same time, Apple gives itself more leeway for potential errors or inaccurate responses–an important point for a feature deeply embedded in the iPhone system.

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AI Siri to Do Much More

Apple generally takes a cautious approach to artificial intelligence. Even with the initial features of Apple Intelligence, the company initially labeled many features as beta. This caution is likely to be even more pronounced with Siri, as the voice assistant is significantly more important to many users than individual AI extras.

Additionally, there appears to be a technical shift: For the AI foundation of the new Siri, Apple is reportedly partially relying on technology from Google. This suggests that Siri will not only receive individual new functions but will fundamentally operate on a more modern AI basis. The goal is apparently an assistant that responds more naturally and better understands complex tasks.

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Dedicated Chat App for Siri Planned

The Bloomberg report also mentions initial details about the operation. Accordingly, Siri could increasingly appear as a standalone chatbot. Among other things, an app is planned where users can write directly with Siri. In the settings, they will also be able to decide whether their chat histories are deleted after 30 days or stored permanently.

With this, Apple is likely to once again put the focus on data protection. The company has emphasized for years that privacy is a central selling point of its devices. Apple could officially present the new Siri as early as June 8, 2026, at the WWDC developer conference, where the company traditionally showcases the most important software innovations for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

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