Apple is finally letting everyone play with its new Siri.
Last month at its Worldwide Developers Conference, the company showed off a completely redesigned, AI-powered version of the assistant. Back then, only registered developers could get their hands on it. Starting today, any Apple user can try it by installing the iOS 27 public beta.
That is a big deal for two reasons.
First, the scale is massive. There are roughly 2.5 billion active Apple devices out there. Opening the beta to all users means Apple is about to get feedback from real people doing everyday things, not just developers poking at bugs.
Second, this is a major shift in how Siri works. The new version uses Apple Intelligence, which includes Apple's new Foundation Models that are deployed on-device and leverage its Private Cloud Compute. It can access information on a user's device, including emails, photos, and messages, respond to on-screen content and base its replies on general knowledge, just like contemporary AI chatbots.
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This upgrade did not happen in a vacuum.
Apple partnered with Google on the underlying technology. Specifically, Apple used Google's Gemini model to create what are called "distilled" versions of that AI. Distilling means taking a powerful model and shrinking it down into compact, efficient versions that are integrated into iOS and other Apple software, using proprietary data. The result is a Siri that can do things like find certain photos in your Photo Library, summarize group texts, add a meeting that was sent via text message to your calendar, look up nutritional information about what's in your camera view, and answer questions you would normally search the web for, such as when a local event is happening or what's in the news.
The catch? This is still a beta. Apple is using the public test to find and fix problems before the official launch in September.
Developers who tested the early version reported some errors. For instance, a tester asked Siri for recent news on Iran, and it searched contacts for someone with that name. Nevertheless, this year's developer betas have been relatively stable, a track record that makes the public beta much more advisable than in prior cycles.
If you do not usually install beta software, you can wait. The full iOS 27 release is expected in September, just a couple of months away. That version will include the finished Siri, along with other updates.
But if you are curious, the public beta is free and easy to install. A note of caution: beta software always warrants careful consideration. If your device needs absolute stability and can never suffer errors, you might choose to delay installation until the official release. That is the trade-off for getting early access.
Why does it matter? This is the biggest Siri overhaul ever. Apple is now testing it at massive scale with real users. Siri now has tighter integration throughout the operating system and can be accessed by saying "Hey Siri," pressing the side button, swiping down from the Dynamic Island, or via Spotlight search.
For the first time, Siri also has its own stand-alone app. Over the next few weeks, millions of real users will put the new Siri through its paces.
Either way, your next iPhone update is going to feel different. And that is the point.
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