Apple is said to be preparing a massive artificial intelligence (AI) overhaul for its upcoming iOS 27 update with revamped Siri at the centre of the iPhone, iPad and Mac experience. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, screenshots of next-generation AI interface, a standalone chatbot app and major operating system changes have been spotted ahead of the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on June 8.
This launch will come a crucial time for Apple as it fights to catch up with rivals like OpenAI, Google and Samsung. After previewing its AI foundations in 2024, Apple suffered multiple delays, and has spent the last year rebuilding its digital assistant and rethinking its entire AI strategy.
Siri inside the ‘Dynamic Island’
Apple has reportedly completely redesigned Siri to function as an “always-on” assistant built directly into the iPhone’s modern hardware. Moving forward, users will interact with Siri through two distinct starting points.
The first is saying “Siri” or holding down the power button will trigger a newly designed animation right inside the Dynamic Island. This mode is optimised for quick, voice-based web searches and queries.
The second is the “Search or Ask” interface, allowing users to swipe down from the top center of the screen from anywhere in the system.
This opens a full-screen, text-friendly Siri interface designed for typing out complex tasks. (To accommodate this, the standard Notification Center is being moved to a top-left swipe). This new swipe-down menu will integrate Siri Suggestions, displaying eight frequently used apps, quick features like voice recording, and dedicated morning or evening weather panels, the report claims.
A dedicated Siri chatbot app
For more complex tasks, users can swipe deeper into the interface to launch a standalone, chatbot-style Siri app built to compete directly with ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. The Siri app interface will feature a conversational home screen that includes a history of your past chats, displayed either as a list or a grid of summarised rectangles. It is said to include a voice mode, a standard text field and an attachment picker.
When answering questions, Siri will generate rich text cards that pop out of the Dynamic Island, delivering detailed info on places, people, or news.
Outsourcing to Google and third-party AI
In a surprising twist, Apple is opening up iOS 27 to rival artificial intelligence models. The core Siri system has been rebuilt utilising Google Gemini technology. Furthermore, the system will allow users to route their queries directly to third-party AI agents downloaded from the App Store.
Big upgrades for Camera and Photos apps
Apple is embedding its intelligence features into the stock iPhone media apps, particularly to prepare consumers for future hardware like smart glasses.
Siri is reportedly being integrated directly into the Camera app as a primary shooting mode, replacing the older Visual Intelligence tool. Advanced photographers will gain a new “Add Widgets” panel, allowing them to replace the top row of camera shortcuts with professional controls like manual depth adjustments, timers and Night mode.
The Photos app gains Reframe (which automatically shifts an image's perspective) and Extend (which uses generative AI to fill in missing details outside the original photo frame). Apple is also testing a future update that will let users edit photos using natural language commands