The centerpiece of iOS 27 is Siri AI, a substantially overhauled version of the assistant positioned as a rival to chatbots like Claude and ChatGPT. Siri AI can hold back-and-forth conversations, draw on personal context from Mail, Messages, Photos, and Files, and see what’s on screen to answer follow-up questions. A new standalone Siri app houses ongoing conversations, while a "Search or Ask" interface, accessed via the Dynamic Island, has effectively replaced Spotlight as the default way to search the device and launch apps.
In iOS 27, a new Search or Ask Siri interface replaces the former Spotlight search option, and it’s available from the Dynamic Island. Spotlight and Siri have been unified in the same UI, so you can still quickly launch apps and documents via search in addition to asking questions.
A swipe down from the middle of the iPhone’s display brings up Search or Ask, where you can type or speak a question or request to Siri.
An animation is displayed as Siri is thinking, and then the Siri bubble expands into a short response. If you swipe down on a response, it brings up a text bar where you can provide clarification or ask another question. A " " button lets you add images or documents to the conversation.
Some responses use rich information cards pulled from apps. If you ask Siri about the weather, you’ll see the current weather forecast. If you ask about upcoming calendar events, you’ll see them listed in the Calendar app format.
The lack of system-wide access to Spotlight on iOS bothered me for years. Now, search is only a swipe away no matter the app I’m using, and the search box itself is smart enough to understand whether I’m looking for an app to launch or formulating a longer request for Siri AI.
What do you think about the new hybrid Spotlight/Siri AI search UI in iOS 27? Drop a comment and let us know.
