Siri AI and Apple Intelligence Explained: What It Does and Who Can Use It

Siri AI is Apple’s rebuilt Siri. Apple began rolling it out on 14 September 2026 with iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, as a beta that works in English to start. This guide explains what it does, which devices can run it, where it is available, what the limits are and how Apple says it handles your data. It is part of our WWDC 2026 coverage.

For a broader comparison of AI tools for work, see our guide to AI on Mac and iPhone.

What Siri AI is

Siri AI is an entirely new version of Siri, powered by the next generation of Apple Intelligence. It can draw on personal context to find things across your messages, email and photos, answer questions about what is on your screen, and look up current information on the web. It can also take actions in your apps, such as Messages, Music and Reminders, and in some third-party apps such as WhatsApp and Audible.

Apple’s own example shows how it fits together. Ask what a family member suggested for a visit, and Siri can search your messages, find that they mentioned baking a family recipe, pull up the instructions from an email they sent and add the ingredients to your Reminders list.

Apple Intelligence is the wider system behind it. It is the set of tools built into the operating system, including the writing, photo and Safari features, and Siri AI is the part you talk to. The earlier Siri changes are covered in our WWDC 2024 article.

What you can do with it

Find things across your apps. Search for a photo from years ago, locate an email buried in your inbox, or pull up a note, just by asking.

Ask about what is on your screen. With Visual Intelligence, you can ask Siri about what you are looking at. On a Mac, take a screenshot of an image or a PDF and ask for answers, a search or an action, such as adding an event to your calendar. On an iPhone, Siri has its own mode in the Camera app.

Write with Siri. In most places you can type, Siri can draft something from scratch or give feedback on what you have written. In Messages and Mail it can match your writing style and tone.

Pick up a conversation later. A dedicated Siri app keeps your conversations in one place and syncs them across your Apple devices through iCloud, so you can ask a question on your iPhone and carry on at your Mac. You can pin conversations. You can also choose a voice and adjust how expressive it is and how fast it speaks.

On the Mac, use Spotlight. When you search in Spotlight you can choose Ask Siri as the top result.

For a small business, the practical gains are finding a quote or booking buried in old email, drafting replies in your own tone and turning a screenshot of a document into a calendar event or reminder. Start with low-risk tasks and check the results.

Which devices can run Siri AI

Siri AI needs newer hardware than the operating systems themselves. Siri AI needs:

Siri AI works on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 models and later, and iPhone Air. It also works on iPad mini with A17 Pro, iPads and Macs with M1 or later, Apple Vision Pro, and supported Apple Watch models paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone.

Your device language and your Siri language both need to be set to English. The new, more expressive voices use on-device models and need an iPhone Air or an iPhone 17 Pro model or later.

An iPhone that can run iOS 27 will not necessarily run Siri AI. iOS 27 itself runs on the iPhone 11 and later.

Where and when it is available

Apple says Siri AI is available in beta in most regions. The regional exceptions are the European Union, where it is not available on iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch, and mainland China. In the EU it is available on macOS 27 and Apple Vision Pro if your Apple Account region is in the EU and your languages are set to English.

At launch Apple said French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish would follow in October. To see what your device offers today, check Settings. Siri AI is rolling out to users, and you turn it on in Settings.

Siri AI is not available to children under 13. They use the previous version, called Siri Classic. Parents can choose which version an older child uses. Our guide to Apple’s child safety features shows where.

Usage limits and cost

Some Apple Intelligence features have daily limits when they need online processing. These include Siri AI, intelligent photo editing, Image Playground and some Shortcuts features.

Apple has also said that increased access will be available for a fee in the future. It has not published the size of the limits or a price.

How Apple says it handles your data

Some requests stay on your device. Others use Apple’s Private Cloud Compute. Apple says personal data sent there cannot be accessed by Apple or anyone else. For the most demanding tasks, Apple also uses Google Cloud under the same privacy rules.

Your Siri conversation history syncs through iCloud, which Apple says is done privately.

Apple’s own guidance is that Apple Intelligence uses generative models and the answers can be inaccurate, unexpected or offensive, so check anything important.

How to turn it off or choose the older Siri

On an iPhone, open Settings, tap Siri, scroll down and tap Turn Off Siri, then confirm. To use Siri Classic instead, turn Siri off, then tap Turn on Siri and choose Siri Classic. If you handle client or patient information, decide what you are comfortable letting Siri see before you turn it on.

What to do now

Check that your device is on the list and set to English. Turn it on and try it on everyday tasks. Treat the answers as a starting point, and check anything that matters. If you are not sure whether your iPhone or Mac is ready, see our guides to iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate.

Need a hand?

If you would like help deciding what to switch on, or setting up an iPhone or Mac for your family or business, contact Your Mac Tech.