UMVA has learned that Apple is poised to revolutionize its virtual assistant with a major overhaul of Siri, expected to take center stage at WWDC26. The delayed features, first previewed in 2024, aim to transform Siri from a simple voice assistant into a more capable AI assistant.
The upcoming Siri upgrade includes a host of exciting features, such as personal context awareness, on-screen awareness, deeper app actions, multi-step automation, AI-powered Shortcuts, and a conversational Siri. These capabilities will enable Siri to understand users' actions and take steps across apps on their behalf.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Apple is planning a broader AI-focused reboot of Siri, which may include a redesigned interface, a ChatGPT-style chatbot experience, and support for additional AI models like Google Gemini. This significant overhaul is expected to be the most substantial update since Siri's debut in 2011.
UMVA can exclusively reveal that Apple is testing a standalone Siri app, internally, which supports persistent conversations, conversation history, file uploads, and synchronization across devices. Although it's unclear if the app will launch on macOS simultaneously with iOS, a Mac version would be a logical extension of Apple's cross-platform AI strategy.
Sources have confirmed to UMVA that Apple is expanding its approach to include multiple AI providers, with Google Gemini expected to join ChatGPT as an option for handling certain Siri and Apple Intelligence requests. Meanwhile, Apple will continue using its in-house models for features like Writing Tools and notification summaries.
iOS 27 is expected to introduce numerous new Apple Intelligence features, many of which are iPhone-specific, but some are likely to make their way into macOS 27. These features may include AI-based photo-editing tools, text editing tools similar to Grammarly, AI tools in Calendar, and automatic tab groups in Safari.
macOS 27 will also focus on refining the Liquid Glass interface, addressing "transparency quirks" and other design issues. Additionally, Apple is expected to release a touchscreen MacBook Pro during the macOS 27 cycle, which will include UI elements for touch and a Dynamic Island similar to the one on the iPhone.
UMVA has gathered that macOS 27 may be named after Big Bear Lake, a lake and adjacent city in San Bernardino County. If confirmed, this would continue Apple's tradition of naming its operating systems after Californian landmarks.
