Siri

Siri is Apple's built-in voice and AI assistant, available across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other Apple devices, handling tasks from setting reminders and answering questions to controlling device functions through natural language.

For much of its existence, Siri occupied an awkward position in the AI landscape — occasionally useful for simple tasks but widely criticized for unreliability and limited understanding, even as rival AI systems grew more capable. The assistant's shortcomings became a recurring theme in the broader conversation about Apple's AI ambitions.

Apple has undertaken a significant overhaul of Siri, rolling it out alongside iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. Early impressions have been notably more positive, with longtime skeptics acknowledging meaningful improvement. Apple has drawn clear boundaries around the assistant's design, positioning it as a practical tool rather than a social companion. The company has also introduced the ability for users to choose alternative AI systems on their devices — a notable shift in Apple's historically closed ecosystem approach.