iOS 27: Siri AI and Liquid Glass Revolutionize the Apple Experience

A New Era for Siri with iOS 27

Apple has recently unveiled iOS 27, the next major update to its operating system for iPhone, which will be available this fall for compatible models. This version stands out with the introduction of Siri AI, an ambitious overhaul of the voice assistant that promises to significantly enhance its performance and ability to hold more natural conversations. Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering at Apple, described this evolution as a significant step forward for Siri, emphasizing the focus on optimizing the overall performance of the system.

Siri AI: A Major Technological Advancement

At the heart of iOS 27 is Siri AI, which is built on an innovative architecture developed around Apple Intelligence. This new version of Siri utilizes foundation models that operate both locally on the device and remotely via Private Cloud Compute, Apple's secure cloud environment. The company assures that, thanks to this infrastructure, users' personal data is never stored or shared with Apple or other entities. Siri AI can be activated traditionally via voice command or the side button, but also by simply swiping down from Dynamic Island.

Siri AI is now capable of understanding the content displayed on the screen and benefits from extensive world knowledge through web access. This capability allows the assistant to better grasp the user's personal context. For example, Siri can search for a restaurant recommendation sent by a friend via message, retrieve a hotel confirmation number from an old email, or display photos from a recent trip with loved ones. This contextual intelligence is enhanced by the ability to perform actions across numerous applications, such as drafting emails, editing and sharing photos, creating reminders, or adding songs to a playlist.

Siri AI in the Camera App

Another notable feature of iOS 27 is the integration of Siri into the Camera app. By pressing the shutter button, users can obtain information about what they see through the lens. Apple specifies that this feature allows Siri to provide useful answers simply by showing what is captured by the camera. Additionally, Siri AI offers customization options to adjust the expressiveness, pace, intonation, and accent of its voice. The assistant also provides writing tools capable of generating drafts from descriptions, rephrasing texts, or adapting tone and punctuation based on the interlocutor in the Messages and Mail applications.

Limited Availability of Siri AI in Europe

However, Apple has confirmed that Siri AI will not be available on iOS and iPadOS in the European Union at launch, due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Nevertheless, the feature will remain accessible on macOS 27, visionOS 27, and watchOS 27 for European users who have set their devices to English. Craig Federighi expressed hope that Siri AI could be offered in the EU in the future, continuing dialogue with European regulatory bodies.

Enhancements to Apple Intelligence in Applications

Beyond Siri, iOS 27 introduces several enhancements thanks to the new generation of Apple Intelligence in the iPhone's default applications. The Photos app gains three new editing tools: Spatial Reframing for cropping, Extend for expanding an image, and an improved version of Clean Up capable of removing larger elements. The Image Playground feature now allows users to generate images in a photorealistic style and modify them via simple text descriptions.

The Messages and Mail applications offer suggestions for quickly performing various actions, while the Call Context feature, available in English, automatically pulls relevant information from your apps during a call. For example, if you contact an airline, it may display a confirmation code received via email. Safari automatically organizes tabs by themes, and a new Notify Me feature monitors web pages to alert the user in case of changes. The Passwords app detects weak or compromised passwords and can update them automatically. Finally, the Shortcuts app now allows users to describe automation in natural language, enabling Shortcuts to manage actions between your applications.

Liquid Glass: Welcome Adjustments

Introduced with iOS 26, the Liquid Glass design language had faced criticism for its readability. With iOS 27, Apple brings several corrections to ensure optimal readability through more uniform refraction and improved contrast. App icons are sharper and more detailed. A new slider, accessible from the Settings app, allows users to easily customize the appearance of Liquid Glass, ranging from an ultra-transparent rendering to a fully colored hue.

Optimized Performance

Apple has dedicated a significant portion of the development cycle for iOS 27 to optimizing the system. According to the company, app launches would be up to 30% faster, loading new photos into the library up to 70% faster, and AirDrop transfers up to 80% faster. Transitions between Wi-Fi and cellular networks are also smoother, while the search engine for Spotlight, Photos, and Mail has been completely rebuilt for more stable and relevant results.

iOS 27 is available today in beta for developers enrolled in the Apple Developer program. A public beta is expected to follow next month.