For years, I've been frustrated with Siri. Apple's voice assistant has so often failed to respond correctly, especially when I'm driving and need directions and other help. And for years, I've been waiting for Apple to fix Siri's flaws, only to be let down by empty promises. But now I'm finally getting my wish.

On Monday, Apple rolled out the first public beta of iOS 27 (along with iPadOS, MacOS, WatchOS, and more). That means the upcoming OS is now available for anyone to install and use. And with it comes the new Siri AI, which finally earns its place not just as a true assistant but one with the right level of AI smarts.

What's new with Siri AI?

The new Siri represents a fundamental shift in Apple's approach to voice assistants. Instead of relying solely on predefined commands and limited contextual understanding, Siri AI integrates more deeply with the device's hardware and software. It leverages Apple's large language models to interpret complex queries, handle multi-step tasks, and even understand the content displayed on the screen.

I've been using the new Siri AI with the iOS 27 developer beta for almost a month, both at home and in the car. I've also been turning to Siri in MacOS 27. And though there are rough edges, I've been impressed. The new Siri is certainly a dramatic improvement over the current version, not just with its skillset but with its greater accuracy and reliability.

Now that the public beta is available, anyone with a supported iPhone can take the new Siri for a spin. Since this is only the first public beta, it may still be buggy. That means you might not want to install it on your primary phone. In my case, I'm running it on a test iPhone 15 Pro. But I'll be using that phone more frequently as my main device, especially in the car.

How to install the iOS 27 public beta

To install the public beta, head to Settings, select General, and tap Software Update. Select the Beta Updates option, then choose iOS 27 Public Beta. Allow the beta to download and install, and restart your phone. With the developer beta, you had to sign up for a waitlist to enjoy the new Siri. But with the public beta, you can dive right into Siri without waiting.

Keep in mind that you need the right iPhone model to support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence. That means an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, or any iPhone 17 model. The new Siri will also let you customize its voice and take advantage of more accurate dictation. But for those features, you'll need an iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max or an iPhone Air. Come September, I plan to upgrade to an iPhone 18 Pro, so I'll be able to use all the new Siri features.

7 reasons I'm celebrating Siri AI

With those requirements out of the way, here are some of the reasons I like the new Siri.

1. Better visuals

Instead of the glowing border that wraps around your iPhone screen, the new Siri displays a bubble at the top, which looks cooler and more clearly indicates that you're in Siri mode. This visual change is subtle but significant—it reduces clutter and makes the assistant feel more integrated into the interface rather than a floating overlay.

2. Greater reliability

I've been using the new Siri with CarPlay in the car, and so far, it's more reliable than the old Siri. Though it's not quite there yet, it has managed to deliver the right results when I ask for directions while I'm driving. For example, I often tell Siri to take me to the address of someone in my contact list by specifying the person's name. Often, the old Siri doesn't even review my contacts and instead gives me a list of web results. But the new Siri automatically chooses the correct person and location. This level of accuracy is a game-changer for hands-free navigation.

3. Less chatty

Some AIs tend to be chatty, trying to engage you in a long conversation. In contrast, Siri AI responds to your question or request without any chit-chat. That's a refreshing change from what I get with ChatGPT, Copilot, and even Alexa+. The no-fuss approach makes Siri AI feel more like a tool than a personality, which is exactly what I want when I'm in a hurry.

4. Dedicated app

iOS 27 includes a dedicated Siri AI app. With the app, you can submit requests by voice or by typing. The app also keeps track of your conversations, so you can easily view and return to any past chat. Plus, your conversations and other activity sync across all your Apple devices that have Siri AI. This persistence is a significant improvement over the old Siri, which had no memory of previous interactions.

5. Siri in the Camera app

With iOS 27, the Camera app adds a new Siri mode. Here, you can ask Siri to describe or answer questions about whatever you see through the camera. This taps into the Visual Intelligence feature introduced in iOS 18.2. But now you can more conveniently use it directly through the Camera app. For example, point your camera at a plant and ask "What kind of plant is this?" or at a landmark and ask "When was this built?"

6. Get help with the current screen

Since Siri AI has on-screen awareness, it can help you with your current screen. For example, I opened a web page for Faneuil Hall in Boston and asked Siri to provide driving directions, to which it did via Apple Maps. This on-screen intelligence extends to apps, settings, and even specific elements within web pages. You can ask "What's this button for?" while looking at a complex form, and Siri will highlight and explain it.

7. Find files

Siri AI can find specific files on your iPhone, including documents, photos, videos, and music. I asked Siri to show me photos of the film "A Trip to the Moon" from my photos library, and it found all the correct ones. This is a huge time-saver for anyone with a large media library. The search is surprisingly accurate, using facial recognition, object detection, and even scene descriptions to locate what you need.

Additional improvements worth noting

Beyond the seven highlights above, Siri AI brings several other enhancements. Dictation is now significantly more accurate, even in noisy environments. The voice assistant can also handle complex calendar management, such as rescheduling meetings that conflict with existing events. It can create reminders with natural language, like "Remind me to buy milk when I get to the grocery store"—and thanks to location awareness, it actually works.

Another notable feature is the ability to control third-party apps more deeply. For example, Siri AI can now post a message to Slack, send a specific email template, or trigger a shortcut from your Home screen. This integration is possible because Apple has opened up more APIs to developers, encouraging them to build Siri-aware experiences.

Compatibility and future expectations

While the public beta is a big step forward, not all features are available on every device. The on-screen awareness and Visual Intelligence require the A17 Pro chip or later, which is why only iPhone 15 Pro and above support the full suite. For those with older iPhones, basic Siri improvements like faster response times and better dictation still apply, but the advanced AI features will be locked out.

Apple is expected to release the final version of iOS 27 alongside the new iPhone lineup in September. The company has also hinted at future updates that will bring even more capabilities, such as proactive suggestions based on your daily routines and deeper integration with Apple's health monitoring features. For now, the public beta offers a taste of what's to come, and it's a taste that leaves me eagerly awaiting the full release.

There's more to Siri and more to iOS 27. But needless to say, I'm excited to use them both on my iPhone. And I'm looking forward to the final release in September when I can run them on a brand new phone.

Source:ZDNET News