Apple users are in store for some big updates coming later this year.
During its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday, June 8, Apple announced the release of iOS 27, which includes several software updates, notably the launch of Siri AI. The new-and-improved version of the long-time virtual assistant relies more heavily on artificial intelligence.
This year’s WWDC will remain memorable as CEO Tim Cook’s final conference before stepping down on Sept. 1. After 15 years leading the tech giant, Cook announced in April he was leaving the helm for a role as executive chairman. John Ternus, senior vice president of hardware engineering, will take his place this fall.
Missed the livestream? Here’s a quick overview of what you may have missed from WWDC26.
Siri is getting an overhaul with iOS 27. The newly announced Siri AI runs on Apple Intelligence.
Siri AI is capable of working across multiple apps, providing commentary based on information in a captured photo, responding to emails and text messages in a user’s tonal voice and providing writing suggestions, even on “most” third-party apps, Sebastien Marineau-Mes, Apple vice president of software engineering, said during the presentation.
Siri AI is also getting an expanded look and sound. Users are able to have a more traditional AI chatbot experience with Siri AI. On iPhone, when speaking to Siri, users 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.
Finally, Siri will get its own app with iOS 27, allowing users to revisit previous conversations with the virtual assistant.
With iOS 27, users have more control over how Liquid Glass appears on devices using a new sliding scale in the Settings app. Users can choose a Liquid Glass interface that is more “Ultra Clear” or “Fully Tinted,” Shubham Kedia, Apple human interface director, said during the presentation.
A new default Liquid Glass interface also further diffuses background content to create more depth from foreground content, Kedia said.
Several apps are seeing upgrades with a more robust Apple Intelligence, including Safari, Apple’s internet browser.
With iOS 27, Safari offers a new way to organize browser tabs by topics, like “writing resources,” “cooking” and “gym clothes,” Beth Dakin, Apple senior software engineering manager, said during the presentation. To save a grouping of tabs, folks can use Safari’s tab groups feature, which saves tabs together, even when the browser is closed.
The new Safari can also monitor pages and send relevant notifications to users. For example, a user can set an alert on a retail webpage for when a specific dress restocks. Safari will monitor the webpage, and if the dress is available again, Safari will send a notification to the user.
Finally, folks may use Apple Intelligence to create custom Safari extensions. Want to create a browser extension that allows you to save, log and rate online recipes? Safari can create one for you.
iOS 27 includes a plethora of new child safety features, including the creation of child accounts. The new accounts allow guardians to block adult websites; create age restrictions in the App Store; set screentime schedules for entertainment, social media and gaming apps and enable a blur filter for any content that may include nudity via text message or FaceTime, Apple director of trust, safety and values Raja Bose and App Store manager Ann Thai said during the presentation.
Though apps and websites may be restricted, child accounts allow younger users to request permission to apps, websites and even new contacts. A request is sent to a guardian’s device, which can be approved remotely, Thai said.
Apple’s AI image generation is also improving with iOS 27. Apple’s Image Playground, for example, is capable of creating more hyper-realistic photos based on prompts.
Users also have access to more AI photo editing tools in the Photos app. The new reframe tool, for example, allows users to change the composition of a photo, after it has been taken, using AI rendering to fill in newly created space.
iOS 27, and the features that come along with it, will be available for public beta use in July and to the general public later this fall, Cook said as he concluded the presentation.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
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