For years, Siri has lagged behind competitors like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, failing to evolve despite Apple's heavy investment in Apple Intelligence. Two major iOS releases passed without the promised supercharged Siri, but at WWDC 2026, Apple finally unveiled a genuinely improved version. Hands-on tests confirm Siri AI can now handle complex queries and chain commands, marking a turning point for the virtual assistant.

The upgrade arrives with iOS 27 this fall, but only for devices compatible with Apple Intelligence. This includes every iPhone from the iPhone 15 Pro onward, plus iPad and Mac models with Apple silicon. The 2024 iPad mini also qualifies because it uses the same A17 Pro chip as the iPhone 15 Pro. To check compatibility, users can open Settings and look for the “Apple Intelligence & Siri” section. If present, the device will receive the AI-powered Siri when iOS 27 stable launches.

Interestingly, Apple plans to release Siri AI as a beta initially. Users will likely need to opt in manually, similar to joining a waitlist for the iOS 27 developer beta. However, iOS 27 itself has broad support—going all the way back to the iPhone 11—so compatibility with the operating system isn't a concern. The real limitation is Apple Intelligence hardware requirements, specifically the A17 Pro or M-series chips.

Newer iPhones get a more customizable Siri AI

Apple explains that the new Siri is built on updated Foundation Models stored directly on the device. This on-device processing improves response times and privacy, as personal requests draw from notes, messages, emails, and photos with contextual understanding. For more complex prompts, the system offloads to larger models in the cloud via Private Cloud Compute, which Apple promises keeps data inaccessible to anyone else.

If you own an iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, or the iPhone Air, Siri AI will leverage a more powerful on-device model. This enables expressive voices, improved speech recognition, and more accurate dictation. The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and the rumored iPhone Fold will also feature these robust on-device AI capabilities, but it’s unclear if the base iPhone 18 will. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple is considering bumping non-Pro iPhones to 9GB of RAM, but Apple states its most powerful on-device AI models require at least 12GB of RAM.

Background: Apple’s long road to a smarter Siri

Apple Intelligence was first introduced at WWDC 2024, promising a suite of AI features for writing, image generation, and Siri improvements. However, the rollout was staggered, and key Siri upgrades were repeatedly delayed. Competitors like Google and Samsung already offered on-device AI assistants that could reason across apps, leaving Apple playing catch-up. The new Siri AI finally delivers on those promises, using a combination of on-device and cloud models to handle tasks like booking reservations, summarizing conversations, and answering multi-step questions.

The hardware requirements for Apple Intelligence are strict: devices need at least 8GB of RAM (for basic features) or 12GB (for advanced on-device models). This is why only iPhone 15 Pro and newer are supported, as older models had only 6GB of RAM. The iPhone 16 series, released earlier in 2026, also supports Apple Intelligence, but the base iPhone 16 uses the A18 chip, which has 8GB RAM and thus limited on-device capabilities compared to the A18 Pro in the Pro models.

What Siri AI can actually do

Based on beta tests, Siri AI can now handle chained commands like “Send a message to Mom that I’ll be late, and add a reminder to call the plumber at 5 PM.” It can reference information from across apps, such as pulling flight details from an email and then adding them to a calendar event. The assistant also understands context in conversations; if you ask “What’s the weather like?” and then “Set a timer for that,” it knows “that” refers to the end of the sunny period. Voice recognition is more accurate, even in noisy environments, thanks to the on-device model.

Privacy remains a key selling point. On-device models handle personal data without sending it to the cloud, while more complex tasks use Private Cloud Compute, which Apple designed to prevent even Apple from accessing user data. This is a notable differentiator from competitors that often upload data to their servers for processing.

Compatibility list and limitations

Here’s the full list of devices that will get Siri AI this fall:

• iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max
• iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Plus, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air
• iPhone 18 (when released later in 2026)
• iPad models with M1 chip or later, plus iPad mini (2024) with A17 Pro
• Mac models with Apple silicon (M1 or newer)

Devices with 8GB RAM (like iPhone 16 base) will get cloud-dependent Siri AI, while those with 12GB or more will enjoy full on-device capabilities. This means expressive voices and advanced speech features are reserved for Pro models and the iPhone Air. Apple hasn’t yet disclosed whether the iPhone SE (if released) will support Siri AI, but it’s likely to require at least the A17 Pro chip.

Some features like app intents and third-party integration may also be limited or delayed. Apple is working with developers to bring Siri shortcuts and custom actions, but the rollout will happen gradually throughout 2026 and into 2027.

Comparison with previous Siri versions

Older Siri versions could only handle single commands and lacked deep app integration. For example, asking “What’s the capital of France?” would give a static answer, but follow-up questions required repeating context. The new Siri AI uses large language models (LLMs) to understand natural language and maintain context across multiple turns. It can also perform actions inside apps, like booking an Uber or ordering food, without leaving the conversation.

Apple’s approach differs from chatbots like ChatGPT, which are purely text-based and require significant cloud processing. Siri AI is designed to be a hands-free assistant integrated into the OS, working with voice commands and on-screen context. This makes it more practical for daily tasks like setting reminders, controlling smart home devices, or sending texts.

Performance and reliability in beta

Testers report that the beta version is surprisingly fast and accurate, with responses coming within seconds. The on-device model handles most routine queries, while complex ones are seamlessly handed to the cloud without noticeable delay. Occasionally, the assistant may misinterpret ambiguous commands, but Apple is continuously refining the models based on user feedback. The final version in iOS 27 is expected to be more polished.

One area of ongoing improvement is multilingual support. Siri AI currently works best with English, but Apple plans to add major languages like Chinese, Spanish, and Japanese by the end of 2026. Support for regional accents and dialects is also being enhanced.

Overall, the new Siri AI appears to be the leap forward Apple fans have been waiting for. It finally closes the gap with competitors while maintaining Apple’s privacy focus. The only downside is the strict hardware requirement, which leaves many older iPhones behind. But for those with compatible devices, the fall update promises a dramatically smarter assistant.

Source:Engadget News