Siri AI is the headline feature of iOS 27, but iPhone users with a compatible model should not expect immediate access when the stable release arrives. Apple will place users on a waiting list before granting access to its revamped assistant, mirroring the approach taken during the beta testing period.
The stable iOS 27 update is due for wider distribution in September. Those who held back from installing the beta will finally be able to try the improved Siri in a matter of weeks. However, installing the update will not immediately unlock the assistant, as a sign-up process must be completed first.
During the beta phase, some users who installed the first iOS 27 beta on 6 June had to remain on the waitlist for a couple of weeks before gaining access. Others waited less than an hour, so the length of the wait has varied considerably.
Why Apple Uses a Waitlist for Siri AI
Apple will ask those installing iOS 27 on the iPhone and Mac to join a waitlist before being allowed to use Siri AI, just as it did with the iOS 27 and macOS 27 betas. The waitlist reportedly allowed Apple to calculate the server capacity required to process AI queries and tasks that cannot be handled on-device and must instead be answered via the cloud.
Apple has significantly improved Siri AI from the first iOS 27 beta through to developer beta 7 and Public Beta 5. With the update, the assistant provides in-depth responses across a wide range of topics. Siri will still set alarms and timers, and there is a standalone Siri app that lets users refer back to a previous response.
Remaining Issues and Alternative AI Apps
Some glitches remain that may still need attention ahead of the stable release. On occasion, Siri AI cuts users off in the middle of a long verbal prompt, and at times it does not register a verbal prompt correctly.
Where Siri AI cannot provide a reliable answer, other AI apps from the App Store, such as Gemini, ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude, can be used instead. It is worth noting that these third-party apps cannot set alarms and timers, a function that remains exclusive to Siri.
The new Siri uses a custom 1.2 trillion parameter model based on Google’s Gemini technology. Apple is reportedly paying Google around £790 million a year to use Google’s Gemini Large Language Model.
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Image: phonearena.com
