Siri has long been the underdog in the virtual assistant race, trailing behind Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa in both intelligence and reliability. Despite Apple's aggressive push for Apple Intelligence over the past few years, the digital assistant has stubbornly refused to evolve. Two major iterations of iOS have come and gone without the supercharged Siri that Apple originally promised during the early Apple Intelligence keynote. However, that finally changed at WWDC 2026, where Apple unveiled a completely revamped Siri powered by advanced AI models. The new Siri, often referred to as Siri AI, is designed to handle complex queries, execute chained commands, and understand context in a way that was previously impossible for the assistant.
We had the opportunity to go hands-on with Siri AI during the beta period, and the results are genuinely impressive. The assistant can now reference information from your notes, messages, emails, and photos, providing answers that are deeply personal and contextually aware. It can perform multi-step tasks like "Find the email from John about the project deadline and add it to my calendar for next Tuesday" without breaking a sweat. This is a monumental leap from the old Siri, which often struggled with even simple follow-up questions.
However, not every iPhone user will be able to experience this upgrade. Apple has confirmed that Siri AI will only be available on devices that are compatible with Apple Intelligence. This includes every iPhone released since the iPhone 15 Pro, as well as iPad and Mac models powered by Apple silicon. The 2024 iPad mini is also supported because it uses the same system-on-chip (SoC) as the iPhone 15 Pro. If you open the Settings app on your iPhone and scroll down a bit, you might see a section labeled Apple Intelligence & Siri. If that section is present, your device is on track to receive the AI-powered Siri upgrade when the stable release of iOS 27 rolls out this fall.
Interestingly, Apple has announced that the new assistant will initially be released as a beta. Users will likely need to manually opt in to access Siri AI, much like those testing the iOS 27 developer beta had to join a waitlist. This cautious rollout is reminiscent of how Apple handled the early stages of Apple Intelligence, where features were gradually introduced to ensure stability and performance. Fortunately, compatibility with iOS 27 itself should not be a cause for concern, as Apple is extending support all the way back to the iPhone 11. This means even older devices will get the latest operating system, but only the newer ones will unlock the full Siri AI experience.
Newer iPhones get a more customizable Siri AI
The improvements to Siri are powered by newer Apple Foundation Models that are stored directly on the device. This on-device processing helps with both response times and privacy, as more sensitive data never leaves your phone. For more complex prompts that require additional computational power, the system offloads the request to larger models stored in the cloud through Private Cloud Compute. Apple claims this architecture ensures your data remains inaccessible to anyone else besides you, maintaining the company's strong stance on user privacy.
If you own an iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or the new iPhone Air, Siri AI will be able to take advantage of an even more powerful on-device model. This enhanced model not only improves the overall responsiveness and accuracy of the assistant but also enables expressive voices for Siri, improved speech recognition, and more accurate dictation. The difference is noticeable in real-world use: the Siri on these devices sounds more natural, understands regional accents better, and can transcribe spoken words with near-perfect accuracy even in noisy environments.
Looking ahead, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and the rumored iPhone Fold will also enjoy these powerful on-device AI models. However, it remains uncertain whether the base model iPhone 18 will share the same capability. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is looking to bump up the memory in the non-Pro iPhones to 9GB, but Apple's documentation indicates that its most powerful on-device AI models require at least 12GB of RAM. If the base iPhone 18 sticks with 9GB, it may be limited to the standard Siri AI experience rather than the premium version that includes expressive voices and advanced speech features.
The RAM requirement highlights a growing trend in smartphone design: as AI features become more sophisticated, the hardware demands increase. This is similar to how high-end Android phones now come with 12GB or even 16GB of RAM to support advanced AI and multitasking. Apple's decision to potentially reserve the best AI performance for Pro models could be seen as a differentiation strategy, but it also risks alienating users who cannot afford the premium price tags.
Historically, Siri's development has been fraught with delays and underwhelming releases. When Apple first introduced Apple Intelligence in 2024, the promise was a Siri that could understand context, perform cross-app actions, and handle on-screen awareness. Yet these features were repeatedly pushed back or scaled down. Competitors like Google Assistant have had on-device AI for years, with features like Google Lens and real-time translation. Amazon's Alexa, while not as integrated into a smartphone OS, has long offered skills and routines that go beyond simple commands. The delay has cost Apple credibility in the AI space, and the company is now playing catch-up.
The new Siri AI is based on large language models (LLMs) that Apple has developed internally. These models are trained on a vast corpus of text and code, allowing them to understand and generate human-like responses. Apple's approach differs from that of competitors in that it emphasizes on-device processing for privacy, but this also means that the models are necessarily smaller and less powerful than cloud-based counterparts like ChatGPT or Gemini. Apple's solution is to use a hybrid model: simple tasks are handled on-device, while complex ones are securely processed in the cloud using Private Cloud Compute. This ensures that users get the benefits of both speed and privacy.
One of the most exciting aspects of Siri AI is its ability to handle chained commands. For example, you can say, "Siri, send a message to my wife telling her I'll be late, and then find me the nearest gas station along my route." The assistant understands the sequence and performs both actions without needing separate prompts. This kind of context-aware multitasking is what users have wanted for years, and it finally appears to be working reliably in the beta builds we tested.
Another area where Siri AI shines is in personalization. Because the assistant can reference your notes, messages, emails, and photos, it can provide answers that are tailored to your life. For instance, you can ask, "What did I plan for my anniversary?" and Siri will scan your calendar, notes, and emails to give you a comprehensive answer. This level of integration was previously only possible with third-party apps, and even then, it was often clunky. Apple's tight control over the ecosystem allows for deep system-level integration that competitors cannot easily replicate.
Despite these advances, there are still limitations. The AI-powered Siri is only available in English at launch, with other languages expected to roll out over the following months. Additionally, some features, such as on-screen awareness (where Siri can understand and act on content currently displayed on your screen), are still missing from the beta. Apple has hinted that these will arrive in a future update, but no specific timeline has been given.
The implications of this upgrade are significant for the iPhone ecosystem. Siri has been a weak point for years, and its improvement could be the deciding factor for users considering a switch from Android. With iOS 27 offering a genuinely intelligent assistant, Apple is finally closing the gap with Google. However, the reliance on newer hardware means that many users will need to upgrade their devices to get the full experience. Apple is betting that the allure of a smarter Siri will drive sales of the iPhone 17 and 18 series, especially among power users who demand the best AI capabilities.
In summary, the new Siri AI represents a turning point for Apple's virtual assistant. After years of stagnation, the AI-powered assistant finally delivers on promises made years ago. While the rollout is limited to Apple Intelligence-compatible devices—primarily the iPhone 15 Pro and later—the experience is transformative for those who meet the hardware requirements. The enhanced on-device model on iPhone 17 Pro and newer adds even more value, with expressive voices and superior speech recognition. As iOS 27 approaches its stable release this fall, users will have the opportunity to opt into the beta and see for themselves what Siri can now do. The future of Siri looks brighter than ever, and it's about time.
Source:Engadget News