Apple readies iOS 27 with Siri AI, extensions

Apple is heading into its June 8 developer conference with a familiar problem and a different pitch. Reports over the past two months say the company is preparing iOS 27 around a rebuilt Siri, a new “Extensions” system for outside AI services and a set of privacy controls meant to distinguish its software from rival chatbot products. (apple.com) Apple has not confirmed those iOS 27 features, but it has said WWDC26 will spotlight “AI advancements” and new software and developer tools. (bloomberg.com) June 8 matters because Apple has already fixed the date. The company said on March 23 that WWDC26 will run from June 8 to June 12, with the keynote and Platforms State of the Union on the opening Monday and sessions distributed through the Apple Developer app, website and YouTube channel. (apple.com) ### What, exactly, is Apple said to be changing in Siri? Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reported on March 24 that Apple is testing a standalone Siri app and a new “Ask Siri” feature that would work across its software, part of what he described as a broader AI overhaul. A May 12 Bloomberg report added that Apple is planning Siri design changes in iOS 27, while a May 17 Power On report said the assistant may arrive with chatbot-style conversation history and privacy controls. (apple.com) Mint reported on May 18 that Apple is expected to bring back features it had previously promised for Siri, including deeper use of personal context from messages, notes and email, alongside a visual redesign. (apple.com) That report also said Apple is testing a Siri interface tied more closely to Dynamic Island, though Apple has not publicly confirmed that design. ### How would the new “Extensions” system work? Bloomberg reported on March 26 and May 5 that Apple plans to let users choose from outside AI assistants and models through installed apps, extending a strategy that already includes ChatGPT as a fallback in Siri. The change is slated for iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 this fall, Bloomberg reported, with support expected from apps such as Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude. (bloomberg.com) 9to5Mac, citing Bloomberg, reported that Apple internally describes Extensions as a way to access generative AI capabilities from installed apps through Siri, Writing Tools, Image Playground and related features. That would make the iPhone less dependent on a single model and shift more AI choice to users and developers. (livemint.com) Bloomberg attributed the plan to people with knowledge of the matter. ### Why is privacy showing up so prominently in these reports? Bloomberg reported on May 17 that Apple’s Siri app in iOS 27 could include automatic deletion of chat history, with options similar to Messages retention settings. PCMag, citing that report, said users may be able to keep Siri conversations for 30 days, one year or forever. (bloomberg.com) Apple has been laying the groundwork for that message in its own product language. At WWDC25, Apple said developers would get access to the on-device foundation model at the core of Apple Intelligence, and Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief, said those tools were “built with privacy” and available even when users are offline. (9to5mac.com) AppleInsider reported on May 17 that privacy and data security are expected to remain central to Apple’s 2026 AI push, though that outlet’s article also mixed reporting with commentary. ### What else is reported for iOS 27 beyond Siri? Mint reported on May 18 that Apple is expected to add AI-powered tools in Photos and continue a broader quality-and-performance push across iPhone, iPad and Mac software. (bloomberg.com) Bloomberg reported separately on April 29 that Apple is planning to embed AI more deeply into the iPhone camera app and make Visual Intelligence more prominent inside that interface. Apple’s 2025 announcements provide one clue to the direction of travel. On June 9, 2025, the company said developers would be able to access its on-device foundation model and use Apple Intelligence in apps, a step Federighi said would open “a whole new wave of intelligent experiences.” iOS 27 reports suggest Apple may now be trying to extend that architecture to outside AI services as well. (apple.com) That last point is an inference from the reported plans and Apple’s 2025 developer strategy. ### When will Apple answer the open questions? June 8 is the next fixed milestone. Apple said WWDC26 opens that day with its keynote, followed by the Platforms State of the Union, and the conference runs through June 12 with more than 100 video sessions and labs for developers. (livemint.com) If Apple keeps to its usual software schedule, the first developer betas would typically follow the keynote, but Apple has not yet published iOS 27 release timing beyond the conference dates. (apple.com 1) (apple.com 2)