What happened
Apple rolled out iOS 27 on 14 September 2026 with a rebuilt Siri powered by Google Gemini, replacing its shaky ChatGPT integration.
With iOS 27, Siri finally feels worth using again. TechCrunch reporter Ivan Mehta says after years of limiting Siri to timers and alarms, he now reaches for the rebuilt assistant for complex, multi-step tasks — a shift he calls Apple's biggest win.
The new Siri is built on Google's Gemini models, replacing the previous version that relied on extended knowledge and a shaky ChatGPT integration. It can now follow multi-step directions, like researching hidden iOS 27 features and adding them to a Note, and draft and send messages on your behalf by pulling context from files, messages and email.
The standout upgrade is on-screen and Camera awareness. Siri can read visible text, answer questions about what is on your display — from the oldest player in a World Cup lineup to a startup's funding and competitors — and, with new Camera app access, answer questions about what is in your viewfinder.
iOS 27 rolled out on 14 September 2026 to every iPhone that runs iOS 26, stretching back to iPhone 11 and iPhone SE 2nd gen. The update is free and about 20.6 GB, with Apple citing 30% faster app launches and up to 80% faster AirDrop. The full Siri AI is gated to iPhone 15 Pro and later with iCloud+, launching in English beta before French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish arrive in October, with no EU launch at first.
Why this Siri feels different
The previous Siri was easy to ignore. This version tries to understand intent across apps, remembers personal context, and acts rather than just answers. It still misses sometimes — Mehta notes it filed a note in the wrong place — but the hit rate is high enough to build a habit.
What to check after updating
Update size is about 20.6 GB. Try: ask Siri about something on your screen, point Camera at an object and ask, or say 'research iOS 27 hidden features and save to Notes' to test multi-step.
Why it matters for me
Siri can now handle multi-step tasks, drafts messages from your files and answers questions about what is on your screen or camera.
Daily Life
Iphone Users · General Public
iPhone users can finally use Siri for real tasks — multi-step notes, message drafting and on-screen lookups — instead of just timers.
Money
Iphone Users · Gadget Users
Full Siri AI needs iPhone 15 Pro or newer and iCloud+, so older iPhone owners must weigh upgrade or subscription cost to get the best features.
Work
Ai Enthusiasts · General Public
Apple choosing Gemini over its ChatGPT tie-up signals a shift in the AI assistant race and raises expectations for on-device helpers.
What to remember
Siri went from timer-only to actually useful.
iOS 27's Gemini-powered Siri can finally do multi-step tasks and see what's on your screen — and people are actually using it.
Verified sources (4)
With iOS 27, I'm actually using Siri again
↗Apple rolls out Liquid Glass UI, Siri AI & faster features (iOS 27)
↗Apple rolls out Siri AI with iOS 27 and other updates
↗See What's New in iOS 27 (WWDC26 recap)
↗Claims and linked sources
6 claimsAfter years of using Siri only for timers and alarms, TechCrunch's Ivan Mehta now regularly uses the rebuilt Siri in iOS 27 for complex, multi-step requests and on-screen context.
The new Siri is built on Google's Gemini models, replacing the earlier version that relied on extended knowledge and a shaky ChatGPT integration.
Apple first introduced Apple Intelligence and teased an advanced Siri over two years ago; the rebuilt Siri is only now shipping after multiple delays.
The new Siri can take complex multi-step directions, such as researching hidden iOS 27 features and adding them to a Note, and can draft and send a message on the user's behalf.
Siri can read on-screen text, answer questions about visible on-screen content and now has Camera app access to answer questions about what is in the viewfinder.
Advanced Siri AI features are restricted to iPhone 15 Pro and later with A17 Pro and newer silicon and require an iCloud+ subscription; Siri AI launched in English beta with FR/JA/KO/PT/ES in October and no EU launch at first.
Community signals
Signal-only · not reporting“For years, I barely used Siri for anything beyond menial tasks like setting timers or alarms. That has changed with iOS 27.”
“I have really enjoyed using the new Siri, often trying to find new use cases for it — and that's possibly the biggest win for Apple, given that I, like many people, had given up on Siri before this update.”