Apple has partnered with Google to completely revamp its AI assistant Siri, integrating AI into core applications to better meet user needs and expectations.
At WWDC 2026, Apple revealed major upgrades to Apple Intelligence, beginning with a collaboration announcement with Google Gemini, alongside launching a new Siri experience and embedding AI to enhance various applications' capabilities.
Apple explained that the system is powered by a second-generation on-device processing model featuring personal context awareness, broad real-world data understanding, and cross-application command capabilities under the name Siri AI. This unlocks Apple Intelligence’s potential to transform Siri into a more powerful assistant, now available as a dedicated standalone app.
Siri’s design has shifted from a colorful edge effect to a darker-toned interface that integrates with the Dynamic Island feature. Users can summon Siri on iOS by swiping down from the Dynamic Island.
Additionally, Siri’s voice customization has become more detailed, allowing adjustments to speech rhythm and emotional expression. This new system extends to text dictation features and use within CarPlay and wireless headphones.
Siri AI can now understand on-screen content; a demo showed it responding to questions about locations mentioned in Instagram posts and accessing contact information without requiring detailed commands.
For cross-device functionality, on Mac, Siri is integrated into Spotlight with a monochrome menu bar icon and a dedicated app. All conversations sync privately via iCloud.
Also, the iOS 27 Camera app includes a dedicated Siri mode that lets users scan bills or point at posters to instantly add events to their calendar.
Apple Intelligence enhancements in core apps start with Safari, which gains automatic tab grouping by topic and a feature to notify users of webpage changes via natural language commands.
The Passwords app now allows bulk password updates with a single click, while Messages and Mail apps analyze chat context to suggest reminders, notes, or relevant image searches.
Apple has also introduced a new photo editing app that shifts from generating low-quality AI images to using AI to enhance users’ own photos, such as creating backgrounds or contact posters.
Meanwhile, the Photos app has been upgraded with improved tools to remove unwanted elements seamlessly, AI-powered edge expansion, and new composition adjustments. These tools work on all photos, not just those taken with Apple smartphones.
Most Apple Intelligence features will be available on devices that already support Apple Intelligence, though some advanced capabilities are limited to newer hardware. Siri AI will have a daily usage quota, with iCloud+ subscribers receiving increased access.
Siri AI beta testing for developers starts today, with a public rollout scheduled for later this year. Initially, it will support English language only.