Apple Launches iOS 27 With Siri AI Overhaul

Apple has long sought to embed artificial intelligence across its ecosystem. Its overhaul of Siri using Apple Intelligence marks a shift in smartphones from passively receiving commands to acting as proactive assistants capable of operating on-screen interfaces. The change not only redefines human-machine interaction but is also a key part of Apple’s effort to defend its position in the global premium smartphone market amid the generative AI arms race.

Apple released the iOS 27 public beta on July 15, 2026. The company has invested as much as $3 billion in server infrastructure for the AI upgrade. The latest version fully integrates intelligent features into Camera and Safari, helping lift Apple shares 1.5%. An estimated 5 million users worldwide will begin receiving the update today, providing a stress test ahead of the formal release in September.

Apple has been developing a new version of Siri that can understand personal context and perform tasks across apps since unveiling Apple Intelligence in June 2024. With its in-house AI development reportedly lagging, Apple is said to be paying Google about $1 billion a year to use Gemini cloud models for core capabilities. The effort is crucial to Apple’s competitiveness in the generative AI market.

The AI-powered Siri, originally scheduled for release in spring 2026, has reportedly been delayed after internal testing exposed slow response times, insufficient accuracy and other problems. It could arrive at the earliest with iOS 26.5, expected around May 2026. Even upon its initial release, core features such as App Intents, which handles cross-app actions, may remain incomplete and be added in stages.