Apple has released iOS 27, and after months of anticipation, the update lives up to its billing as one of the company's most significant software releases in years — largely because of one feature: Siri AI.
Siri AI: The Headline Feature
For years, Siri has lagged behind AI assistants like ChatGPT and Google's Gemini, struggling with anything beyond basic commands like setting timers or checking the weather. iOS 27 marks Apple's most serious attempt yet to close that gap. The new Siri AI is powered by Apple Intelligence and, notably, runs on underlying technology from Google's Gemini models — a partnership that signals Apple prioritizing capability over building every piece of the AI stack in-house.
Siri AI can understand natural, conversational requests, draw on information stored across a user's iPhone, take actions directly inside apps, and provide answers based on current information pulled from the web. Apple has also given the assistant a dedicated standalone app, separating it from the utility-style interactions Siri has been known for since its 2010 debut.
Liquid Glass Gets Refined
The Liquid Glass interface, first introduced in iOS 26 as a way to visually blur background elements and keep focus on what's relevant on-screen, has been updated in iOS 27. Apple says the refresh delivers more uniform refraction and improved contrast between foreground and background elements, and has added a new slider that lets users control how clear or tinted the effect appears — giving people more control over the look introduced last year.
Visual Intelligence and Everyday App Improvements
Beyond Siri, Apple has expanded Apple Intelligence's presence throughout the operating system. Visual Intelligence — which lets the iPhone's camera interpret and interact with what it sees — has gained new capabilities. Everyday apps also get AI-driven upgrades: smarter photo editing tools, AI-powered suggestions inside Messages and Mail, automatic tab organization in Safari, and a new "Notify Me" feature that alerts users when a tracked webpage changes.
A New iPhone Handoff Feature
Among the more practical additions is iPhone Handoff, a new feature that lets users switch between two iPhones while keeping the same phone number active on each device — useful for people who juggle a work and personal phone, or who want a backup device without managing two separate numbers.
Performance Improvements
iOS 27 also brings broad, systemwide speed improvements. Early users report noticeably faster animations, quicker app launches, and faster AirDrop transfers compared to iOS 26, along with snappier performance when taking photos, opening the keyboard, browsing the App Library, and swiping between Home Screen pages.
Compatibility and Rollout
iOS 27 is available as a free download for all iPhones running iOS 26, which includes the iPhone 11 series and newer. However, Siri AI and the broader set of Apple Intelligence features are restricted to iPhone 15 Pro and newer models, meaning older compatible devices will receive the update but not its signature feature.
The release arrived alongside a full suite of companion updates across Apple's product line, including iPadOS 27, macOS 27 ("Golden Gate"), watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 — part of a coordinated rollout Apple previewed at its iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Duo event earlier in September.
Why It Matters
iOS 27 represents Apple's clearest statement yet that AI is now central to the iPhone experience, not a peripheral feature. By turning to Google's Gemini models to power Siri AI, Apple has signaled a willingness to partner with a direct AI rival rather than delay the update further while building comparable technology independently — a notable shift for a company known for keeping its software stack tightly in-house. Whether Siri AI closes the gap with competitors like ChatGPT and Gemini's standalone apps will likely shape how iOS 27 is remembered.
