Apple is expected to roll out a revamped Siri in September alongside iOS 27, instantly giving it the largest installed base of any AI chatbot because the assistant will ship preloaded on hundreds of millions of iPhones, including devices going back to the iPhone 15 Pro. But a hands-on test by Bloomberg reporter Natalie Lung found that scale does not automatically translate into stronger chat performance. According to the report, the new Siri’s edge comes from device awareness. It can read emails, messages, notes and files stored on the phone, and it can also understand what is currently shown on screen. That allows it to generate more tailored responses and help with items such as spreadsheets, documents or even crossword clues. The trade-off is setup time: Apple’s assistant may need hours or even days to re-index device content before it can retrieve older information reliably. The report also says Siri still lacks access to real-time data from third-party apps, while ChatGPT already offers broader external integrations. OpenAI, for its part, is pushing ahead on voice interaction and productivity tools. Bloomberg highlighted GPT-Live for more natural spoken exchanges and ChatGPT Work for integrations with Codex, Google Drive and desktop workflows. In short, the comparison is shaping up as distribution versus capability: Apple has the channel, while OpenAI still holds the lead in conversational fluency and workflow breadth.

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said on the company’s July 31 earnings call that Apple is weighing a way for users to pay for higher AI usage through upgraded iCloud+ plans, a notable shift from his previous public position that Apple Intelligence would not carry an extra charge. Cook said he expects heavy use of Apple Intelligence and the new Siri, and added that Apple plans to offer some kind of upgrade path within iCloud+ so users can buy more capacity. The remarks line up with signals Apple had already placed in its product documentation. In June, the company said AI features including image generation come with daily usage limits because they rely on powerful server-side models, while higher allowances are available through most iCloud+ plans. The report also said a camera recognition feature in the Home app, due this fall with iOS 27, will require a 2TB or higher subscription tier. The article links the pricing shift to Apple’s AI cost base. It says Apple Foundation Models are built on Google Gemini and cites outside estimates that a multi-year licensing deal announced in January 2026 could cost about $1 billion a year.

Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub, widely referred to as HomePad, could be unveiled between October this year and early next year, according to Bloomberg. The device is expected to center on a new AI-powered Siri and serve as Apple’s main push into the smart home market. Bloomberg also said a new Apple TV and an updated HomePod mini are set to launch this fall ahead of HomePad. Both devices are expected to keep largely familiar designs while adding more powerful chips so the upgraded Siri can run smoothly. As described in the report, HomePad would feature a 7-inch square display and run a software experience rebuilt on top of tvOS, while blending elements from iOS and watchOS. It is said to come in both tabletop and wall-mounted versions, with support for video calls, home security monitoring, Intercom broadcasts, and integration with other Apple Home products. The report added that facial recognition could allow the screen to identify who is standing in front of it and automatically adjust text size, icon size, and layout for different household members. Bloomberg said the product had originally been planned for a spring 2025 debut, but delays tied to AI Siri development pushed the timeline back.

Apple plans a feature called 'Extensions' in iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 that lets users pick third-party AI models like Google Gemini and Anthropic. Internal testing includes Google and Anthropic, while a $250M settlement over exaggerated AI claims adds context.

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian confirmed that Google is working with Apple on next-generation Apple Foundation Models powered by Gemini to support a more personalized Siri.

Apple's internal 'Campos' project will rebuild Siri using Google Gemini technology, adding coding, image generation, and multi-step command handling. A wearable AI device is also in development, though Humane's earlier failure raises doubts.

Nansen CEO Alex Svanevik said he has turned bullish on Apple again and laid out five reasons behind that view: improving Siri performance, the rise of on-device AI inference, the choice of a new CEO, Apple’s cash flow strength, and the company’s brand value. He said Siri in the iOS 27 beta has improved noticeably and that Apple’s search efforts are finally showing progress, even if the product is still short of where it ultimately needs to be. In his view, smaller AI models could work in Apple’s favor because they make high-quality on-device inference more realistic, which would allow AI models to run locally on Apple hardware with gains in privacy protection and response speed. Svanevik also pointed to John Ternus as a CEO candidate with a hardware background, saying that aligns with a future in which Apple should keep leaning into its hardware advantage. He added that Apple’s ability to generate strong free cash flow and maintain one of the most valuable brands in technology remains central to its long-term case.

Apple is working with Baidu on AI features for iPhone users in China, according to Odaily, which cited people familiar with the matter. Baidu is said to be focused on developing an AI-powered search tool that will be included in the Apple Intelligence feature suite. The reported system can handle both images and text, and is also tied to an upgraded Chinese version of Siri. The report also points to an earlier clue from June 23, when overseas blogger One Jailbreak said a code teardown of iOS 27 Beta 2 found the term “Baidu Visual Search” inside ExtensionKit. On the same day as the Odaily report, China’s cyberspace regulator published filing information for seven on-device generative AI services for mobile phones, and Apple Intelligence was listed among them.