UMVA has learned that Apple's highly anticipated macOS 27 is set to revolutionize the user experience with a major overhaul of its virtual assistant, Siri, and a slew of innovative features.
The main event at WWDC26 is expected to be the spotlight on Siri, which has been quietly undergoing an "AI reboot." This upgrade, first previewed at WWDC 2024, has been delayed multiple times, but insiders confirm that Apple is now targeting a rollout over the coming year, with some features potentially arriving in beta.
Sources close to the project have revealed that the delayed Siri features include game-changing capabilities like personal context awareness, on-screen awareness, deeper app actions, multi-step automation, AI-powered Shortcuts, and a conversational Siri. These cutting-edge features aim to transform Siri from a simple voice assistant into a more capable AI assistant that can understand what you're doing and take actions across apps on your behalf.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Apple is planning a broader AI-focused reboot of Siri, complete with a redesigned interface, a ChatGPT-style chatbot experience, and support for additional AI models like Google Gemini. While details remain scarce, one thing is clear: Siri is headed for its most significant overhaul since its debut in 2011.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Apple is reportedly testing a standalone Siri app, internally. This app is said to support persistent conversations, conversation history, file uploads, and synchronization across devices. A Mac version would be a logical extension of Apple's cross-platform AI strategy.
Another seismic shift could involve the AI models powering Siri. Reports suggest Apple is expanding its approach to include multiple AI providers, with Google Gemini widely expected to join ChatGPT as an option for handling certain Siri and Apple Intelligence requests.
As the tech giant prepares to unveil macOS 27, whispers are circulating about the next iteration of Apple Intelligence. This could include AI-based photo-editing tools in the Photos app, text editing tools similar to Grammarly, AI tools in Calendar, and automatic tab groups in Safari.
UMVA has gathered that macOS 27 will also bring refinements to the Liquid Glass interface, addressing "transparency quirks" and other design issues. The goal is to make Liquid Glass look the way Apple's design team intended it to from the start.
Additionally, Apple is expected to release a touchscreen MacBook Pro during the macOS 27 cycle, complete with UI elements for touch. A new menu will appear with touch controls when the user touches the screen, and menu items will expand to make touching them easier.
As for the name, macOS 27 may be named after Big Bear Lake, a lake and adjacent city in San Bernardino County. The Big Bear name has been spotted in data attached to an image Apple shared, fueling speculation that this could be the next Californian landmark to inspire Apple's naming convention.
