iOS 27 actually uses Siri again

For years, I rarely used Siri for anything other than simple tasks like setting timers and alarms. Things have changed with iOS 27, and we now use Siri repeatedly to understand complex requests and on-screen context.

While Siri is clearly the focus of this software update from Apple, I’m also enjoying the many other quality of life updates.

Siri

I’ve been using iOS 27 on my main device since the public beta was released, and before that on another device through the developer beta. I’m really enjoying using the new Siri and often try to find new uses for it. And considering that, like many people, I had given up on Siri before this update, this is perhaps Apple’s biggest win.

More than two years ago, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, heralding an advanced version of Siri. And after several delays, the company finally shipped it, and it didn’t disappoint. Built on Google’s Gemini model, Siri is much smarter than previous versions built on expanded knowledge and unstable ChatGPT integration. A new logo and transition animations have also been added.

First, we asked Siri about a variety of sports topics, from World Cup matches to team lineups and scores. The previous developer version had some issues, but most of the information was correct. Siri can also give complex, multi-step instructions. For example, I asked it to find small and hidden features in iOS 27 and add them to my notes, and it worked great.

Additionally, Siri can also draft messages and send them to someone.

Siri can also retrieve context from files, messages, and emails, so you can search for conversations, including those related to deliveries, and ask it to compose a return message.

Siri’s on-screen context was also a huge blessing. I was able to ask trivial questions like who was the oldest player on the pitch while looking at the lineups of two World Cup teams, and even have the text read out loud on the screen when I didn’t want to. When I was on a startup’s website, I could ask Siri to look up funding information and competitors.

One of my favorite use cases was surfing Coffee Reddit for a new roaster or bean and asking Siri to add it to a specific note. I ran into some difficulties getting Siri to add it to the appropriate notes, but I ended up making the note names smaller to make them more consistent.

You can now access Siri in the camera app as well. This means you can now ask questions about what you see in the viewfinder. When I was at a restaurant, I asked Siri what drink I had. From the color of the drink, I could tell that it was green juice. This is a good first visual guess. When I specified that I was in an Indian restaurant, I was correctly told that this could be jaljira or aam panna. (It was the latter.) I also took a photo of a restaurant sign and asked Siri to suggest the best items on its menu.

You can also take a photo of your coffee bag and ask Siri how to make the perfect cup of coffee.

In iOS 27, Siri AI now has a dedicated app that lets you return to previous chats. In settings, users can also change Siri’s voice and expressiveness.

The new assistant is positioned to work with other third-party apps, and as developers update their apps after the operating system launches, it will be interesting to see if there is a smooth handoff between Siri and apps.

apple intelligence

Apple Intelligence powers many AI features in iOS 27.

For example, Apple is littering its new OS with vibecoding features. The first is a shortcut creation feature that lets you create shortcuts and automations written in natural language. This means you don’t have to figure out how to create shortcuts yourself, and you can start with simple requests like “Show me today’s to-do items every morning at 8 a.m.” or “Convert my photos to JPEGs.” Once you create a shortcut, you can make it more complex by adding steps such as Convert selected photos to JPEG and share via AirDrop.

I’ve always wanted to create a list of songs I’ve heard and liked in bars and cafes, so I created a shortcut to Shazam the song and saved both the track and the location.

You can also now create custom alerts in Safari to track changes to pages such as blogs, product prices, and privacy policy pages.

The Photos app has some new useful tools like Reframe and Enhance. These don’t always work well, but in some cases they can make your images look better. Meanwhile, Apple has definitely improved the eraser feature, leaving fewer strange artifacts when deleting objects.

With Apple Intelligence, when you receive certain messages, such as information about events or locations, you’ll receive smart suggestions asking if you want to add them to your calendar or notes. Additionally, the Passwords app can now automatically change passwords on your behalf by logging into a site.

Other quality of life improvements

Before I get into the other features, I have to say that I like the new clipboard feature. This allows you to easily paste anything from one app to another, including links, photos, videos, and text. Once an item is added to the clipboard, a shortcut button called Paste from Safari (or similar) appears on your keyboard to allow you to paste the item. I use this feature a lot, and I can’t stress enough how life-changing it is, even though it’s a small change.

Additionally, iOS 27 also addresses people’s complaints about the appearance of liquid glass. Users can now change the transparency according to their preference. The controls are so granular that you don’t even have to choose from presets.

Apple also introduced intelligent network switching with this update. This will automatically switch your connection from Wi-Fi to mobile data if there is a problem with your wireless connection. Switching is seamless and extremely convenient when doing important tasks so you never lose your internet connection.

This update also focuses on child safety, as it includes a new setup flow that automatically recommends essential apps. Additionally, parents can set schedules, time limits, and allowances for each day of the week. Parents can receive notifications when their children visit new websites and approve their access remotely. The system will also warn you if your child is exposed to nudity in Messages, FaceTime, or other apps.

Other than Siri AI, iOS 27 doesn’t have many major features, but it does make your daily life much easier. Previously, my default would have been to go to ChatGPT or Gemini to get answers to my questions. But with iOS 27, I started using Siri more often, even though I don’t use Apple’s Messages or Mail apps.

iOS 27 is rolling out to all users with iPhone 11 or later and iPhone SE (2nd generation) or later. Users can download the latest version by going to (Settings) > (General) > (Software Update).