Apple’s AI-powered Siri shows signs of long-awaited comeback

Apple may finally be turning Siri into the intelligent assistant iPhone users have been waiting for, with early testing of iOS 27 suggesting a major leap forward for the company’s long-criticised software.

For years, Siri has lagged behind rivals such as ChatGPT and Gemini, prompting many users to rely on third-party AI assistants for tasks that Apple's built-in assistant struggled to handle.

However, the first iOS 27 beta indicates that Apple's latest AI-powered version of Siri could significantly narrow that gap.

One of the most notable upgrades is Siri’s ability to understand personal context by indexing information stored across an iPhone, including texts, emails, notes and calendar entries.

During testing, Siri was able to answer more complex and conversational questions, including requests such as when an upcoming personal training session was scheduled or the deadline for cancelling a hotel booking to receive a refund.

Rather than requiring exact commands, the assistant appeared capable of interpreting vague prompts and retrieving relevant information from multiple sources on the device.

More Useful Real-World Knowledge

The updated Siri also demonstrated stronger awareness of current events and real-world information.

In one example, the assistant successfully identified a photo from the New York Knicks’ championship parade and explained the context behind the event. It was also able to provide commuting advice based on relevant local news information.

The improvements appear to stem from Apple’s adoption of more advanced AI models, helping Siri generate responses that feel more capable and natural than previous versions.

Users may also benefit from a dedicated Siri app, which offers a more focused AI experience. Early impressions suggest Siri’s responses tend to be concise and direct, avoiding some of the overly conversational style seen in competing chatbots.

Still a Work in Progress

Despite the improvements, the beta version is not without flaws.

The assistant occasionally struggles to understand non-American accents, an area where some competing AI tools continue to perform better. There are also reports of inconsistent access to certain personal data, including information stored within Apple's Health app.

As with any beta software, Apple is expected to refine and improve performance before the public release of iOS 27 later this year.

A Critical Test for Apple’s AI Ambitions

The revamped Siri represents one of Apple’s most important software upgrades in years as the company seeks to establish a stronger position in the rapidly evolving AI market.

While the assistant may not yet match the best AI chatbots in every category, early testing suggests it has moved beyond being a frequent source of frustration for users.

If Apple can continue improving accuracy and reliability before launch, Siri could finally become a compelling reason for iPhone users to rely on Apple’s own AI ecosystem rather than turning to competing services.

For a product that has often been viewed as Apple’s weakest software offering, that would mark a significant turnaround.