Siri is getting a big overhaul.
During the keynote presentation at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, June 8, Apple announced the launch of Siri AI, an expanded Siri that relies on Apple Intelligence, including an all new independent Siri app.
The new-and-improved Siri is capable of working across several apps, identifying information and photos on the screen, and offering more more in-depth AI chatbot conversations for users.
Interested in learning more about the new Siri features? Here’s what to know.
Siri AI is capable of working across multiple apps to provide a more well-rounded virtual assistant experience.
For example, if a user is curious about when an upcoming concert is, the user may ask Siri for the date and time. In the same thread of conversation, the user can ask Siri how to purchase tickets and to set a reminder for when tickets go on sale.
Siri pulls “current world knowledge” for the user, while placing the event on the user’s calendar and setting a reminder notification, Mike Rockwell, Apple vice president of Siri engineering, said during the presentation.
Siri AI also offers more integrated writing tools, allowing users to “write” using voice-to-text.
When using Siri to draft an email or text message, Siri AI is able to read through previous correspondence with the recipient to create an appropriate tone, Sebastien Marineau-Mes, Apple vice president of software engineering, said during the presentation. Sending an email to your boss and typically use short, concise language? Siri AI is able to pick up on this trend and craft a message that reads similarly.
Siri AI also provides writing suggestions on text messages, email and other written works, even in “most” third-party apps, Marineau-Mes said.
The new Siri is able to analyze information on screen.
Another example Rockwell provided was asking Siri where an Instagram photo was taken. On the Instagram app, a user can activate Siri to ask where the photo on the screen was captured. Further, a user can ask Siri if there are any friends nearby − using the Find My app − and to create a road trip, stopping at the location in the photo and at a pal’s house along the way.
Additionally, when using the Camera app, users can activate Siri and click the shutter button to get more information about what’s on the screen. For example, if a user points the iPhone camera to a plate of food, Siri can tell the user the food’s nutritional facts − based on what Siri thinks the food is, of course.
As part of the overhaul, users are able to have a more traditional AI chatbot conversation with Siri. On iPhone, when a speaking to Siri, user have the ability to swipe down on the Siri pop-up to see a full chatbot conversation transcript, Justin Titi, Apple director of iOS system experience, said during the presentation.
Further customization of Siri’s voice is also available, including pacing and expressivity. With the new update, Siri is supposed to sound more conversational, less robotic.
Siri AI is integrated into the Spotlight app, which functions as a system-wide search bar, on iPad and Mac. With Siri AI enabled, users are able to type in a question into the Spotlight search bar to be answered by Siri.
Siri AI on iPad and Mac also supports Visual Intelligence, Apple’s AI powered camera and on-screen feature for the first time. On Mac, for instance, users can use a new keyboard shortcut to select a portion of the screen to then ask Siri a question. For example, if a user sees an image of a dessert they like while browsing on a Mac, the user can create a selection box around the image, then ask Siri what a potential recipe may be.
The new Siri app acts as an archive for past conversations users had with the virtual assistant. Photos captured while using Siri are also saved in the app for future review.
Siri AI is available on devices that support iOS 27, including the following:
Siri AI will be available to users later this year, Craig Federighi, Apple senior vice president of software engineering, said at WWDC.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
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