Apple unveiled its third generation of foundation models and introduced a revamped artificial intelligence system for Siri at its Worldwide Developers Conference. The company presented iOS 27 and detailed how its AI capabilities, branded as Apple Intelligence, will function across its device ecosystem with new features designed to make Siri more conversational and capable.
The updated Siri will resemble AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Google Gemini more closely than a traditional question-and-answer tool drawing from the web. The voice assistant will be widely released in the fall as part of a major upgrade that comes after years of user frustration and false starts.
Apple's announcement addresses concerns about the company falling behind competitors in the artificial intelligence race. Industry observers noted that while Apple's technology appears capable, the delayed timeline means the company is entering a market where other tech firms have already established their AI offerings. The company emphasized that its focus has been on building AI that prioritizes user privacy and integrates seamlessly with its hardware and software ecosystem.
A notable aspect of Apple's approach involves running some AI models on servers operated by Google, while maintaining user privacy commitments. According to Apple, even when processing occurs on Google's cloud infrastructure, Google does not have any kind of access to user data or queries. This hybrid approach allows Apple to offer more powerful AI features that require server-side processing while keeping its privacy promises.
Tim Cook highlighted the AI-forward upgrade during what was described as his final WWDC keynote. The presentation emphasized the many improvements being tackled alongside the Siri enhancement, presenting Apple's AI strategy as a comprehensive effort across the company's product line.
The announcement comes after the company reached a 250 million dollar settlement related to false advertising, with observers noting that the vibe of Apple's 2026 WWDC keynote felt like a company listing accomplishments proudly. One subtle aspect included the many AI demonstrations of someone standing with phone in hand.
Apple also announced new child safety features for iPhones and iPads alongside the Siri upgrades, indicating a broader approach to AI integration that extends beyond voice assistant improvements.
The new features will be available in iOS 27 when it launches later this year. Apple did not provide a specific release date but typically makes new iOS versions available in the fall. Notably, some AI features will not be available in Europe initially, though specific reasons for the regional limitation were not detailed at the conference.