Apple Intelligence makes Siri actually useful, thanks to some major changes.
It’s easy to forget how impressive Siri was when it was unveiled in 2011. But over time, Siri never really evolved and even struggled with basic tasks. Chances are you’ve asked it to play a song or set an alarm, only to have it search the web for your request. If you haven’t been a fan of Siri for a while, iOS 27 might change your mind.
The original Siri was limited: it could only respond to commands for which it had been programmed. Play a song, create a timer, set an alarm – tasks like that. When it came to personal context, he could only take actions like calling a specific contact or starting a route, but he never really understood the context in its entirety. This changes with iOS 27, where Siri has been rebuilt with AI.
Siri now understands your personal context
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The new Siri AI has what Apple calls “personal context understanding.” Once you install iOS 27, you may notice a notification in the Settings app about “Optimize Search and Siri.” This means your device learns everything about you, from emails to messages. The process takes a while (it will run faster when your phone is locked, charging, and on Wi-Fi), but it’s essential for Siri AI to work. With this knowledge of the contents of your phone, Siri becomes much more powerful and intelligent.
Suppose you are traveling and have just arrived at the airport. Instead of having to search for the hotel address in your emails, just ask Siri. It will probably find the right address based on your emails and conversations. You can even ask it to copy the address to your clipboard. Another good example is finding a recommendation from a friend. Having trouble remembering the title of a song or book someone sent you? Ask Siri and it will search your messages for you.
You can also use Siri AI for general knowledge answers. Want to hear surprise songs from a specific concert on Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour? Ask Siri and it should find exactly these songs on Apple Music. Siri AI even works with third-party apps, and while it depends on developer adoption, some of them are already compatible, like Flighty and Gentler Streak.
How to use Siri AI on your device
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Unfortunately, not everyone can use Siri AI. Beyond updating your Apple devices to Platform 27, your device should also support Apple Intelligence. That means an iPhone 15 Pro or later, or a Mac or iPad with an M1 chip or later (plus the seventh-generation iPad mini A17 Pro).
Another important limitation: Siri AI is currently only available in English. Apple says support for more languages will be rolling out soon, starting in October with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. You may need to join a waitlist to get the new Siri and the Siri AI app. It usually doesn’t take long, but it’s one more step to getting your hands on Apple’s new virtual assistant.
