iOS 27: How to Get Siri AI and What Is New

Apple released iOS 27 on September 14, 2026, and it is the biggest iPhone update this year. The star feature is Siri AI, a completely rebuilt Siri that works as its own app. Here is everything you need to know, in simple terms, including exactly how to turn on Siri AI if it is not showing up for you yet.

Quick Answer

• iOS 27 works on iPhone 11, iPhone SE (2nd generation), and newer
• Siri AI, the new assistant, needs a newer iPhone: iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 or later, or iPhone Air
• Siri AI is not on by default. You have to turn it on yourself and join a waitlist
• Siri AI currently works in English only. More languages arrive in October
• You must be 13 or older to use Siri AI
• Siri AI is not available in the EU or China right now

What Is New in iOS 27

iOS 27 focuses on three things: a smarter Siri, better performance, and more parental controls.

Performance:

• Apps launch up to 30% faster
• AirDrop transfers up to 80% faster
• Photos load faster in your library
• Older iPhones feel noticeably smoother thanks to a new CPU scheduler

Design:

• Liquid Glass now has a slider so you can control how transparent it looks
• Sharper, cleaner app icons
• Bigger, better looking home screen widgets

Other useful changes:

• Safari can now group your tabs by topic automatically
• Passwords app can help you update weak or leaked passwords
• Camera launches faster in Low Power Mode
• Redesigned parental controls with age-based Child Accounts
• Better system-wide search across Spotlight, Photos, and Mail

What Is Siri AI

Siri AI is Apple’s new version of Siri, and it works very differently from the old one. It now lives in its own dedicated app instead of just popping up over your screen. It can:

• Understand what is currently on your screen and answer questions about it
• Search across your messages, emails, photos, calendar, and notes to answer personal questions
• Write and send messages in your own writing style
• Take actions across different apps on your phone
• Answer general knowledge questions, similar to a chatbot

Apple built Siri AI using its own AI models, but for harder questions, it sends the request to Apple’s private servers rather than answering purely on your device. Apple has said some of these cloud-based features come with daily usage limits, with a paid option to increase that limit expected later.

Which iPhones Can Use Siri AI

This is where a lot of people get confused. iOS 27 itself installs on any iPhone that could run iOS 26, going back to the iPhone 11 and iPhone SE (2nd generation). But Siri AI specifically needs much newer hardware:

• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• iPhone 16 and newer models
• iPhone Air

If you have an iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, or a regular iPhone 15 or 15 Plus, you can install iOS 27 and get all the performance and design improvements, but you will not see the option to try Siri AI.

How to Turn On Siri AI

Siri AI does not turn on automatically after you update. Here is exactly how to enable it:

1. Update to iOS 27 first, if you have not already: Settings > General > Software Update
2. Open Settings
3. Tap Siri
4. If Siri is turned off, tap Turn On Siri first
5. Tap Try Siri AI (Beta)
6. Follow the on-screen steps to pick a voice and finish voice setup
7. Review the privacy settings shown to you
8. You will be added to a waitlist

Once your turn comes up, Apple sends you a notification and Siri AI downloads automatically in the background. You do not need to do anything else.

Why Am I Not Seeing the Siri AI Option

If you have a supported iPhone but still cannot find the option to join the waitlist, try this:

1. Go to Settings > Siri > Language
2. Set it to English (United States)
3. Go back to Siri settings and check again for Try Siri AI (Beta)

Many users outside the US have reported that switching both their region and Siri language to US English is what makes the waitlist option appear. Once you have access, you can switch your language settings back if you prefer.

Is Siri AI Available in My Country

Siri AI is rolling out to most countries, but there are two big exceptions right now:

• European Union: Not available. Apple says it is still working on a version that fits the EU’s privacy and security requirements.
• China: Not available. Apple says this is due to ongoing regulatory requirements.

Outside of these two regions, Siri AI is rolling out gradually through the waitlist system described above.

Do I Need to Be a Certain Age to Use Siri AI

Yes. Apple requires users to be 13 years old or older to access Siri AI, and there are no exceptions to this, even with a parent’s permission.

What Languages Does Siri AI Support

At launch, Siri AI only works in English. Apple has confirmed that French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish are coming with the iOS 27.1 update, expected no later than October 23, 2026. Your device language and Siri language both need to be set to the same supported language for Siri AI to work.

What Is Still Missing From iOS 27

A few features Apple announced are not available yet and are expected to arrive in future updates:

• A redesigned Health app with AI powered health insights, coming later in 2026
• Additional Siri AI languages, coming in October
• Smarter suggested replies in Messages that match your writing style
• Automatic password changes for compromised accounts

How Does Siri AI Compare to Other AI Assistants

Apple is a late entrant compared to companies like Meta and Google, who have already released their own personal AI agents. Meta launched its own agent, Muse, just days before iOS 27 arrived, and Google has been expanding its own AI agents through Google Labs. What makes Siri AI different is that it is built directly into the iPhone you already own, rather than being a separate app you need to download and set up.

Frequently Asked Questions