Siri is reportedly set for its biggest transformation in nearly 15 years, becoming the centerpiece of Apple’s ecosystem and a strategic weapon in the company’s effort to compete with the world’s leading AI platforms.

After years of criticism for lagging behind rivals in digital assistants and artificial intelligence, Apple is said to be preparing a comprehensive overhaul of Siri across iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and the next generation of macOS.

According to the latest leaks, the upgrade will represent the most significant change in Siri’s history and is expected to become a cornerstone of Apple’s AI strategy as it challenges platforms developed by OpenAI, Google and Samsung.

Many of the changes are expected to be unveiled during Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), scheduled for June 8.

Siri evolves into a true AI agent

According to Bloomberg, the new Siri will no longer function solely as a voice assistant. Instead, it will become a fully fledged AI agent capable of understanding personal context, analyzing on-screen content, searching the web and executing complex tasks across the operating system.

The development is widely viewed as a pivotal moment for Apple’s AI ambitions following a difficult year. In 2024, the company introduced a range of Apple Intelligence features but repeatedly delayed their release, allowing competitors to widen their lead.

Over the past year, Apple is believed to have rebuilt several of Siri’s core components while rethinking its broader approach to generative AI.

Siri moves into Dynamic Island

One of the most notable changes involves Siri’s deep integration with Dynamic Island on the iPhone.

Rather than appearing as a simple pop-up window, Siri will function as a persistent assistant that is always ready to respond. Users will be able to activate it by saying “Siri” or pressing and holding the power button, launching an entirely redesigned interface directly within Dynamic Island.

Apple reportedly wants Siri to become the command center for nearly every activity on a device. The system will be able to combine personal data, information displayed on the screen and web-based content to fulfill requests far more intelligently than current versions.

For example, Siri may be able to analyze emails, calendars, notes and messages to provide context-aware responses instead of simply handling basic commands such as setting alarms or opening applications.

Alongside traditional activation methods, Apple is also said to be introducing a completely new interaction model.

Users will reportedly be able to swipe downward from the center of the top edge of the screen to access a new “Search or Ask” interface. This environment will combine a search engine, AI chatbot and personal assistant into a single experience.

The interface will support both text and voice input. Users will be able to launch apps, send messages, check weather forecasts, create appointments, search notes, run app shortcuts and conduct internet searches through Apple’s new AI-powered search system.

Search results will reportedly appear as visual information cards emerging from Dynamic Island. Users seeking deeper interaction can continue swiping to open a full chatbot-style conversation with Siri.

Siri gets its own dedicated app

Another major strategic shift is Apple’s reported plan to launch a standalone Siri application.

The app would function similarly to ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude, allowing users to review conversation histories, continue previous discussions and manage AI requests within a dedicated workspace.

The interface is expected to support text input, voice conversations and the ability to upload documents or images for analysis.

This represents a significant transition for Siri, moving it from a device-control assistant to a comprehensive conversational AI platform.

According to reports, Apple is also reconsidering its traditionally closed approach to AI development.

In addition to its existing partnership with ChatGPT, the company has reportedly tested integration with Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude models.

Users may be able to choose their preferred AI model directly from a drop-down menu within the Search or Ask interface. Such flexibility would allow Apple to leverage the strengths of multiple AI systems rather than relying exclusively on its own technology.

The move also suggests a more pragmatic approach to the AI race, acknowledging that partnerships could help narrow the gap with competitors.

Smarter scheduling and content creation

One of Siri’s long-standing weaknesses has been handling complex requests.

The upgraded version is expected to allow users to ask about available time slots before scheduling appointments. Siri may also be able to identify calendar conflicts and suggest suitable alternatives.

In addition, the assistant could automatically draft emails, notes and messages by combining information gathered from the web with data stored on the device.

For example, users may ask Siri to create a note explaining how to repair a car engine or draft an email to a business partner that includes available meeting times from their calendar.

Camera and Photos receive major AI upgrades

Apple is also reportedly integrating Siri directly into the Camera app.

Users may be able to take a photo and immediately ask AI to analyze the content, search for similar images on Google or send the image to external AI models for more detailed information.

The feature is viewed as an important step toward future products such as smart glasses and camera-equipped AirPods.

Meanwhile, the Photos app is expected to gain two new AI-powered tools: Reframe and Extend.

Reframe will allow users to alter the perspective or composition of an image after it has been captured. Extend will use AI to generate missing portions of an image.

For instance, if the lower section of a building is cropped out of the original photo, AI could create a realistic extension to complete the scene.

Apple is also reportedly testing natural-language photo editing. Users would simply type or speak commands such as “crop this into a square,” “make the sky bluer,” or “brighten the face,” and the AI would automatically perform the requested edits.

Beyond Siri, iOS 27 is expected to introduce a range of additional features, including a more customizable Camera app, digital identity cards within Wallet, AI-generated wallpapers, system-wide grammar checking and a new version of Image Playground.

Hai Phong