How to try the new Siri AI – join the waitlist today

At a glance:

• Siri AI is only accessible through the iOS 27 developer beta and a waitlist.
• A free Apple Developer account is sufficient; the $99 paid program is no longer required.
• Supported devices include iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, and any iPhone 17 model running the iOS 27 developer beta.

What you need to try Siri AI

Apple unveiled Siri AI at WWDC 2026 as the next‑generation, “Apple Intelligence‑powered” assistant. The company says the new Siri is more conversational, can draw on personal context from messages, emails, photos, notes, and even what’s displayed on the screen, and can act across apps. However, the feature is gated behind the iOS 27 developer beta and an explicit waitlist, meaning only a subset of users can test it before a broader public rollout later in the year.

To qualify, you must have a compatible iPhone running the iOS 27 developer beta. Apple lists the following models as compatible:

• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• Any iPhone 16 model
• Any iPhone 17 model

These devices must be enrolled in Apple’s developer program, but the free tier now grants access to beta software, eliminating the previous $99 annual fee.

Installing the iOS 27 developer beta

The first step is to install the iOS 27 developer beta on a secondary iPhone. Apple warns that developer betas are unfinished: apps may crash, battery life can suffer, and features may disappear. Back up your device before proceeding.

To install, open Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates, select iOS 27 Developer Beta, and follow the prompts. The update will download and install like any other iOS update, after which the phone will reboot. Once the beta is active, the iPhone will automatically receive any subsequent developer beta releases linked to the same Apple ID.

Joining the Siri AI waitlist

After the beta is installed, Siri AI does not appear automatically. Open Settings, navigate to Apple Intelligence > Siri, and tap “Try New Siri.” Follow the on‑screen prompts to opt in. Apple places you on a waitlist; when a slot opens, a notification will inform you that the new Siri is available.

Apple has not disclosed how long the wait will be, but it has confirmed that Siri AI will be available in beta “later this year.” The initial rollout will be English‑only and will not include the EU for iPhone and iPad users at launch.

What Siri AI can do

Apple’s marketing describes Siri AI as a “dramatically more capable and conversational assistant.” Specific capabilities include:

• Access to broad world knowledge for up‑to‑date answers on any topic.
• Detailed, natural‑language responses with back‑and‑forth conversation.
• Use of personal context from messages, emails, photos, and notes.
• Retrieval of details such as restaurant tips, hotel confirmations, and trip photos.
• Understanding of on‑screen content and answering questions about it.
• Visual Intelligence for analyzing camera input and screenshots.
• Cross‑app actions like drafting emails, editing or sharing photos, and generating or rewriting text system‑wide.
• Punctuation and tone matching in Mail and Messages.
• Conversation history saved in a dedicated Siri app.
• More expressive voices and improved dictation.
• Bill‑splitting via Apple Cash.
• Availability across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay, AirPods, and Vision Pro, with Spotlight integration on iPad and Mac.

These features aim to shift Siri from a simple voice trigger to a full‑fledged AI assistant that can act on user intent across Apple’s ecosystem.

Availability timeline and regional limits

Apple says the Siri AI beta will arrive “later this year,” starting with English language support. A public iOS 27 beta is expected in July, which will make the waitlist process easier for non‑developers. The general‑availability release for all users is projected for the fall.

Regional restrictions are already in place: Apple confirmed that Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iPhone and iPad. The company’s support pages reference “Apple Intelligence‑enabled devices,” which currently map to the iPhone 15 Pro line, iPhone 16 models, and later devices.

Should you try it now?

Because the iOS 27 developer beta is intended for developers, it may not be ideal for a primary daily‑use phone. Users are advised to install the beta on a spare device or wait for the public beta in July. Early adopters who enjoy experimenting with AI tools can join the waitlist now, but they should be prepared for potential instability and limited feature availability until Apple refines the experience.