Apple Introduces Siri AI With Enhanced Features and Privacy Controls

​Apple has announced the launch of Siri AI, a major update to its voice assistant, at the Worldwide Developers Conference. This new version, called the "next generation of Apple Intelligence," brings a more conversational Siri powered by Google's Gemini models. Siri AI uses on-device processing and Apple's Private Cloud Compute to protect user privacy, ensuring that personal data is neither stored nor accessible to Apple or others.

Key Highlights

• Apple unveils Siri AI with on-device processing and enhanced privacy protections.
• Siri AI integrates across iOS, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, watchOS, and visionOS.
• New features include visual intelligence, advanced writing tools, and customizable voice options.
• Siri AI initially limited in the EU due to Digital Markets Act regulatory requirements.

Siri AI Features and Integration

The new Siri app remembers previous chats and is available in the Dynamic Island on iOS. On iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, Siri AI integrates into Spotlight. The assistant will also be available on watchOS and visionOS. Only certain supported devices will receive the on-device Siri AI model, which offers more expressive voices and improved dictation accuracy. Users can customize Siri’s voice expressiveness and pace. Dictation now handles punctuation, capitalization, and formatting automatically.

Siri AI can access personal context, such as messages, emails, and photos, to provide relevant responses. This feature works with Apple’s own apps and will extend to third-party apps when developers integrate with Spotlight. Siri AI can answer questions about content on the screen or search the web for current information using broad world knowledge. All Siri AI conversations sync across Apple devices via iCloud.

Visual Intelligence and Writing Tools

On iOS, Siri AI introduces a mode in the Camera app, allowing users to ask questions about what they see. Users can split bills with Apple Cash and receive nutritional insights about food. Visual Intelligence is now available on iPadOS and macOS, enabling visual searches, screen-based questions, and immediate actions. On iPadOS, this integrates with the screenshot feature, while on macOS, users can access it with a keyboard shortcut to select and query screen content.

Siri AI includes integrated Writing Tools accessible anywhere users type. It can generate drafts, refine, or edit text based on prompts. In Mail and Messages, Siri AI adapts to each recipient’s usual communication style, including punctuation and tone. The assistant also proofreads text systemwide, including in most third-party apps.

Siri AI can edit and generate images, though daily usage limits apply. Increased access is available with iCloud+ plans. Apple plans to release Siri AI as a beta later this year for users with supported devices set to English, with additional languages to follow.

Availability and Regulatory Challenges

In the European Union, Siri AI will initially launch only on macOS, watchOS, and visionOS if the language is supported. It will not be available on iOS and iPadOS in the EU due to the Digital Markets Act. Apple states that EU regulators did not accept proposed solutions to bring Siri AI to these platforms while supporting other virtual assistants securely.

Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, expressed hope to eventually offer Siri AI on all platforms in the EU. However, he noted that current regulatory requirements would force Apple to give other virtual assistants direct access to user data and control over installed apps, which Apple considers a privacy risk.