GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple's iOS 27 update, released September 14, includes an AI-powered Siri but does not activate it automatically. Users must join a waitlist through Settings to try the new assistant, and can revert to the classic Siri at any time.
Apple has finally delivered a version of Siri that behaves more like a conversational chatbot, addressing years of criticism about its limitations. However, newer AI agent applications such as Instinct and Muse have emerged with more advanced capabilities, overshadowing Apple's improvements before they can gain traction.
Omni Group released OmniFocus 4.9, adding compatibility across macOS 27, iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, alongside new Siri AI features. Users can now ask Siri to set due dates, flags, notes, and repeat schedules, and use Apple Intelligence tools like Visual Intelligence to convert handwritten notes or whiteboard photos into tasks. The company also refreshed OmniOutliner with visual updates matching Apple's new Liquid Glass design language.
The Ulysses writing app has been updated to align with iOS 27 and macOS 27, adding Siri AI integration for writing, rewriting and proofreading text, along with a fully customizable toolbar. The release also introduces project templates with pre-built groups and sheets, new group icons, and accessibility improvements, though Siri AI features are excluded for users in the EU.
WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen will hold a live, text-based Q&A session on Wednesday, September 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Subscribers can submit questions about upcoming Apple products and features, including a rumored dual-device iPhone concept, iOS 27, and a revamped version of Siri.
Apple's watchOS 27 introduces a Siri app with chat history, matching similar updates on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, unlike those versions, the Apple Watch interface doesn't offer an obvious way to continue a previous conversation from within the app.
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces a new 'Siri' mode in the Camera app that uses AI to identify and act on what the camera sees, such as translating text or adding event details to a calendar. The update also lets users customize which controls appear in each camera mode, while iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners get exclusive tools including manual aperture, shutter speed, white balance, a histogram viewer, and upgraded Photographic Styles with texture and grain adjustments.
Apple has released iOS 27 to the public, with the redesigned Siri AI chatbot as its marquee feature. Alongside the update, users have discovered a hidden Easter egg referencing Apple's early Mac operating system history from the 1980s.
Apple devices include a toggle called Improve Siri & Dictation that, when enabled, allows the company to save and analyze transcripts and audio from Siri interactions, dictation, and translation requests. Many users may have turned this on during initial device setup without fully realizing what it permits, and it can remain active indefinitely without their awareness.
Users updating to iOS 27 report faster battery drain and warmer devices, but this is a temporary side effect of background processes like re-indexing data, downloading assets, and updating apps. Apple notes this is expected after major updates, and the effect is larger this time due to a full re-indexing needed for Siri AI features, which can take several days.
Apple has officially launched iOS 27 alongside an iOS 26.7 update for users who haven't upgraded, both shipping the same day with over 120 security patches. iOS 27 introduces new photo editing tools, adjustable Liquid Glass visuals, simpler location sharing, weak-password replacement, revamped Screen Time controls, and an AI-driven version of Siri that can converse and complete tasks like ChatGPT or Gemini.
Apple's newest Watch models introduce Live Rewind and Siri Recap, two audio-intelligence tools that use the device's microphone to transcribe missed dialogue and summarize conversations. Because they capture speech from everyone nearby, not just the wearer, the features could run afoul of two-party consent laws in several US states, even though Apple says no audio is stored or made replayable to other people.