Apple unveils iOS 27 and Siri overhaul powered by Google Gemini at WWDC 2026
The tech giant announced a major architectural shift for its virtual assistant, expanded Apple Intelligence tools, and significant speed improvements across its ecosystem, with compatibility starting from the iPhone 11.
Apple held its WWDC 2026 keynote at Apple Park on 8 June 2026, marking a pivotal moment for the company as CEO Tim Cook delivered his final address before handing leadership to Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus on 1 September. The event centred on the introduction of iOS 27 and a comprehensive overhaul of Siri, which is now powered by Google’s Gemini models. This strategic partnership aims to bolster Apple’s artificial intelligence capabilities, addressing user expectations for more capable and conversational virtual assistants in an increasingly competitive market.
Under the hood of the new Siri, Apple has integrated Google’s Gemini family of models to develop the next generation of Apple Foundation Models. The assistant will be available as a standalone app alongside its existing integrations, featuring enhanced visual intelligence and cross-app context awareness. Apple Senior Vice President Craig Federighi emphasised the company’s privacy-centric approach, stating that data is used solely to execute user requests and that outside experts can verify these protocols. This commitment to privacy is woven into the broader Apple Intelligence suite, which includes one-tap password updating in Safari, tab management, and AI-powered reply suggestions in Messages.
iOS 27 represents a significant expansion in device compatibility, supporting all iPhone models from the iPhone 11 onwards. Apple highlighted substantial performance improvements across the operating system, claiming that new photos will load 70 per cent faster and AirDrop transfers will be 80 per cent quicker. The update also features improved CPU schedulers to enhance multitasking and a rebuilt search foundation for Spotlight, Photos, and Mail, designed to resolve longstanding issues with search accuracy. Additionally, the visual interface retains the Liquid Glass aesthetic but offers users greater control to dial back or highlight its elements.
In the Photos app, Apple introduced new generative AI tools to compete with third-party editing applications. The 'Reframe' feature allows users to adjust the spatial perspective of an image, while 'Extend' enables image expansion to fill gaps when photos are cropped too closely. The popular 'Cleanup' tool has also been upgraded with better quality and more realistic infill capabilities. These features are part of a renewed push for AI-generated imagery, with Apple excluding any training based on photos generated using its own app to maintain distinct data boundaries.
The company also addressed parental controls and accessibility, introducing new defaults for devices set up for children under 13. Features such as 'Ask to Browse' and 'Ask to Buy' will be enabled by default, allowing parents to manage app access and purchases more effectively. During a technical deep dive hosted by The Verge later that day, Apple executives, including Stacey Ford, vice president of OS Program Management, detailed the rebuilding of search foundations and the strategic rollout of these AI-driven enhancements. The updates are set to roll out following the developer events and demos scheduled throughout the week.
