Rumors have proven true once again. Today at its Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple unveiled what it terms the "next generation of Apple Intelligence," featuring the highly anticipated revamped version of Siri, now dubbed Siri AI.
Siri AI is based on Google's Gemini models and offers a more conversational experience. It features on-device processing and utilizes Apple's Private Cloud Compute for tasks requiring server access, ensuring that your personal data remains private and is not stored or accessible to Apple or any third parties. This new Siri app remembers your previous interactions, and in iOS, Siri can now be accessed through the Dynamic Island. Additionally, on iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, integration with Spotlight enhances functionality. Siri AI is also set to be available on watchOS and visionOS.
The on-device Siri AI model, which will be supported only on specific devices, offers "more expressive voices" and a substantial improvement in accuracy for systemwide dictation. Users can customize Siri's voice expressiveness and pace, while the dictation feature automatically manages punctuation, capitalization, and formatting in real time.
Siri AI can draw from your personal context, including messages, emails, and photos, enhancing its interaction with Apple's native apps. Furthermore, the understanding of personal context is expected to extend to third-party applications as developers integrate with Spotlight.
Besides answering queries related to your screen, Siri AI can access the web for up-to-date information, utilizing its extensive "world knowledge." All conversations with Siri AI, regardless of device, will be synchronized through iCloud across your Apple ecosystem.
An interesting new feature in iOS is the Siri mode in the Camera app, allowing users to inquire about what's in front of them. This includes functionalities such as splitting a bill with friends using Apple Cash or receiving "nutritional insights about a plate of food."
For the first time, Visual Intelligence with Siri will be available on iPadOS and macOS, enabling visual search, interactive questions, and immediate actions on your screen. On iPadOS, this feature aligns with the screenshot experience, while on macOS, users can activate it through a dedicated keyboard shortcut, selecting elements on the screen to query Siri directly.
Siri AI includes integrated Writing Tools accessible wherever you type. Users can describe their writing needs, and Siri AI will generate drafts or refine existing text according to user prompts. In Mail and Messages, Siri AI adapts its writing style to match the typical tone and punctuation used with each recipient. It also provides proofreading assistance across the system, including within most third-party applications.
The AI will have the capability to edit and generate images, though this feature will be subject to daily usage limits, with enhanced access provided for iCloud+ subscribers. Siri AI is expected to launch later this year as a beta version for users with supported devices set to English, with additional language support to follow shortly thereafter.
Initially, in the EU, Siri AI will be limited to macOS, watchOS, and visionOS, contingent upon language support. Siri AI will not be available for iOS and iPadOS in the EU due to the region's Digital Markets Act. Apple has stated that, despite efforts, EU regulators did not accept any of the proposed solutions to make Siri AI available on those platforms while ensuring the security of other virtual assistants.
Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, expressed hope for future availability of Siri AI in the EU and highlighted the company's commitment to working with EU regulators. However, he noted the lack of constructive dialogue regarding privacy and security, leaving no timeline for Siri AI's introduction in iOS and iPadOS across the EU.
Apple has emphasized that the extreme interpretation of the DMA by EU regulators would give any virtual assistant direct access to users' private data and control over installed applications, compromising essential protections designed to keep user data safe.
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