I’ve been using Siri AI for nearly two months in the iOS 27 beta. And so far, it’s checked all the boxes I was hoping for.
The new Siri is far more capable than its predecessor, delivering on the original promise of being a truly capable assistant on Apple devices. In this article, I’ll show you how to set up and use Siri AI on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro, step-by-step.
You’ll get access to the smarter, conversational and agentic Siri. It really does seem to be everything Apple promised.
You’ll also get the other Apple Intelligence features: generating Shortcuts and Safari extensions, extensive photo editing tools, realistic generation in Image Playground, systemwide proofreading and much more.
How to Setup new Siri AI
Apple Intelligence is how Apple brands its AI features. It focuses on models that run on-device as much as possible. For heavier tasks, the secure Private Cloud Compute maintains user data privacy.
The first Apple Intelligence features rolled out in 2024. But the powerful, advanced Siri was nowhere to be found — until now. After many delays, the next round of Apple Intelligence features coming in the OS 27 updates include the Siri originally promised.
The broad feature set is compatible with the iPhone 15 Pro, the new iPhone 16 and later. The iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro enjoy a more advanced and customizable Siri voice, as well as larger on-device models. Unfortunately, the requirements for the Apple Watch are quite strict — the Series 9, Ultra 2, SE 3 and later.
Make sure your Apple Device is compatible with Siri AI
To set up Siri AI on your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro, you must have one of the supported devices. Because Siri AI runs using an on-device Foundation model that requires a lot of memory and neural processing power, the feature are only available on the latest devices. Apple’s OS 27 releases with Siri AI run on:
- iPhone
- iPhone 17
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 17 Pro
- iPhone 17 Pro Max
- iPhone 17e
- iPhone 16
- iPhone 16 Plus
- iPhone 16 Pro
- iPhone 16 Pro Max
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 15 Pro
- iPhone 15 Pro Max
- iPad
- iPad Air (M4)
- iPad Air (M3)
- iPad Air (M2)
- iPad Air (5th generation)
- iPad Pro (M5)
- iPad Pro (M4)
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch (6th generation)
- iPad Pro 11-inch (4th generation)
- iPad mini (A17 Pro)
- Apple Watch
- Series 10
- Series 9
- Ultra 3
- Ultra 2
- SE (3rd generation)
- MacBook Neo
- MacBook Air
- MacBook Air (M5, 2026)
- MacBook Air (M4, 2025)
- MacBook Air (M3, 2024)
- MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
- MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
- MacBook Pro
- MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch, M5, 2026)
- MacBook Pro (M5, 2025)
- MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch, M4, 2024)
- MacBook Pro (M4, 2024)
- MacBook Pro (14-inch and 16-inch, M3, 2024)
- MacBook Pro (M3, 2023)
- MacBook Pro (14- and 16-inch, M2, 2023)
- MacBook Pro (M2, 2022)
- MacBook Pro (14- and 16-inch, M1, 2021)
- MacBook Pro (M1, 2020)
- iMac
- iMac (M4, 2024)
- iMac (M3, 2023)
- iMac (M1, 2021)
- Mac mini
- Mac mini (M4, 2024)
- Mac mini (M2, 2023)
- Mac mini (M1, 2020)
- Mac Studio (all models)
- Mac Pro (2023)
- Vision Pro (all models)
Switch region, if necessary
Due to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the European Union, Siri AI isn’t officially launching in EU member countries. The DMA would require users to be able to choose which AI assistant powers Apple Intelligence, beyond Apple’s built-in Foundation model. Apple claims that allowing third-party AI tools would introduce significant security risks.
However, as a user, this can be easily circumvented. In Settings > General, scroll down and tap Language & Region. Tap Region and set it to United States.
Bear in mind that switching your region will also remove some features that are only available in the EU, like alternative app marketplaces. You have a thirty-day grace period to keep using third-party apps you’ve downloaded from AltStore PAL, but you’ll have to decide whether you want Siri AI or Fortnite.
See also: Why You Still Have Old Siri After Installing iOS 27
Switch language, if necessary
While Apple Intelligence supports a wide array of languages, the new Siri AI only supports English.
If you need to add a language, go to Settings > General > Language & Region, tap Add Languageā¦ to add a variant of English, then set it as your primary language. It should work with any of the regional variations of English, should you prefer Australian, Indian, Philippine or the King’s English.
If you still want to type in a different native language, go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards and make sure your preferred keyboard is on the top of the list.
Install OS 27 software update
If you haven’t updated your device yet, you’ll need to do that before you can setup Siri AI.
On an iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > General > Software Update. After it checks for updates, tap Update Now to download iOS 27 and Install Now when it’s ready.
After you update your iPhone, you can update your Apple Watch. Open the Watch app, then tap **General > Software Update. Tap Update Now. Make sure your watch’s battery is charged over 50% and put it on a charger before you tap Install Now.
On a Mac, you can install macOS Golden Gate 27 from System Settings. Open System Settings > General > Software Update. Click Update Now download and install the update.
On a Vision Pro, the process is very similar. Open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates and tap Update Now.
Opt into the Siri AI waitlist after installation
After the update is installed and your device reboots, you’ll want to join the Siri AI waitlist. Open Settings > Siri and tap Try New Siri. You’ll see a splash screen explaining the new features; tap Join Waitlist, then Continue.
I was fortunate enough to be accepted fast — but I also joined the waitlist within an hour of the update release. People are now waiting over a week to join.
Customize Siri Expressive Voices
One of Siri AI’s new features is the ability to customize the assistant’s pace and expressivity with sliders, in addition to choosing its accent from a drop-down menu.
However, voice customization is not be available to everyone with access to the new Siri. According to Apple, these are the minimum system requirements for Siri’s voice customization feature:
Available on iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, iPad models with M4 and later and at least 12GB of unified memory, Mac models with M3 and later and at least 12GB of unified memory, and Apple Vision Pro (M5).
In other words, even if your device can run iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, or visionOS 27 and the new Siri AI, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll have access to Siri’s voice customization feature. For now, Apple is reserving that specific feature for some of its most advanced and recent devices.
On an iPhone, you can go to Settings > Siri > Voice to customize the expressiveness and pace of Siri’s voice so it’s just right for you.
How to use Siri AI
On iPhone, you can swipe down from the Dynamic Island to start a conversation with Siri AI and get an in-depth answer. A card appears to explain the āAll-New Siriā the first time you pull down to access the new Siri Search or Ask interface.
You can take advantage of the new version of Siri from anywhere across the system. In addition to saying "Hey Siri," on an iPhone you can invoke Siri with the side button, or swipe down from the Dynamic Island to start a conversation and get an in-depth answer. On iPad and Mac, Siri AI is integrated into Spotlight so you can search for answers to almost any question. It is also integrated into systemwide context menus, allowing you to control-click to ask about images, files, or text on your screen. On Apple Vision Pro, Siri AI leverages spatial computing with a 3D visualization that you can place anywhere in your space, and you can invoke Siri by simply looking at it and starting to speak.
You can also tap into Siri AI across your Apple products when you’re on the go with iPhone, Apple Watch, CarPlay, and AirPods. On an Apple Watch, you can conveniently start a conversation with Siri right from the wrist, or a new Smart Stack suggestion can automatically appear to help you continue a recent conversation.
On an Apple Watch, you can take advantage of Siri AI on the go, starting a conversation right from the wrist or through a new Smart Stack suggestion.
Use Siri App to Revisit Conversations
When you want to revisit a past conversation or kick off a new one, you can open the Siri app. The Siri app uses iCloud to privately sync conversational history across your Apple products, so you can start chatting with Siri on Mac and continue the conversation on iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Apple Vision Pro.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve been able to set up Siri AI on your Apple devices. After using Siri AI and comparing it to the third-party tools, I’ve noticed a key difference where I greatly favor Siri.
Unlike other AI chatbots, Siri doesn’t pretend to be human.
It’s not overly verbose, mimicking a human-like personality that might lull you into forming a personal relationship with it.
Siri is helpful, intelligent, and does what you ask it to do. But the way it responds makes clear that it’s a tool, not a person. It reminds you regularly that it’s an AI, so it can make mistakes. And it won’t faux date you.
Did you set up Siri AI on your device? Let us know in the comments.
