iOS 27: Mostly bug fixes, but Siri chatbot
Apple is preparing for iOS 27 and is already testing the new system internally. Apparently, the plan is to offer users fewer overhauls – with one exception.
iPhones of the 17 Pro series.
(Image: Sebastian Trepesch / heise medien)
Apple apparently wants to focus primarily on product maintenance with its upcoming operating system version for the iPhone. According to rumors from the rumor mill, which are familiar with Apple's plans, including from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the upgrade, expected as usual in the fall, is about internal performance improvements, bug fixes, and the removal of old code. In addition, the user interface is to undergo “fine-tuning” after months of continued criticism of the new liquid glass look. This was overseen by former software design chief Alan Dye, who has since moved to Meta and is working on “AI as a new design material” there.
A pleasant upgrade?
Nevertheless, iOS 27 will be important for Apple, as the company still plans to turn its voice assistant Siri into a real chatbot with the upgrade into a real chatbot. Context-sensitive functions are already expected to come to the iPhone with iOS 26.4. With iOS 27, however, these are apparently to be further expanded. This includes, for example, the ability to specifically ask for local data (“When is my flight tomorrow?” “When did Mom mention our meal next week?”), as well as app control and interaction with information currently displayed on the screen.
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iOS 27 will be presented as usual at the World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) in the summer – presumably in the second week of June, should Apple's plans not shift again. Apple is hoping for a breakthrough in AI, after analysts have long accused the company of lagging behind in AI. Google's Gemini is helping to significantly improve Apple's own multimodal models. If annoying bugs and usability inconsistencies in iOS 27 are also fixed at the same time (and in macOS 27 and the other systems), this would certainly be very welcome for many users.
iOS 26.4 on the horizon, but with how much Siri?
Meanwhile, Apple is preparing the first beta version for developers (and shortly thereafter for participants of the public beta program). iOS 26.3 will be released soon and is already available as a release candidate. A release is expected from the last week of February, but not yet with all new Siri functions, but “some components,” as Gurman from Bloomberg also writes.
It would make sense for Apple to let all new features be tested publicly – not only because they have been announced since summer 2024 but also to ensure that they really work. It is apparently planned to work with a Gemini model specifically trained for Apple. However, the voice interface will probably not change.
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