Is the new Siri AI actually good now?

Based on my five tests, yes — it passed all of them on first tries with no editing. It found my photos and receipts, read my screen, handled multi-step requests, kept a conversation going, and identified objects through the camera. The weak spot is triggering it, not the answers.

What can the iOS 27 Siri AI do?

It can search your photos, texts, and emails for specific things (like receipts from a trip and their totals), understand what's on your screen and act on it (like adding dates to your calendar), handle multiple requests in one sentence, hold a back-and-forth conversation, and identify objects through the camera.

Do you need the newest iPhone for Siri AI?

No. I ran every test on last year's phone model and it all worked. I also have it on my watch.

What's the biggest problem with the Siri AI beta?

Triggering it. Saying 'Hey Siri' sometimes glitches out or stops mid-flow, and the camera mode once got stuck on a previous image. Once it actually hears you, the responses are surprisingly solid.

How do I get the Siri AI beta?

It's a waitlist, not a switch. Open Settings, tap Siri, and join the Siri AI queue — I have a separate guide that shows exactly where the button hides and the two settings that keep it from showing up.

iOS 27 · Siri AI Beta

Apple says Siri is finally smart. I tested that.

We've heard "the new Siri is smart" before, so I didn't take their word for it. Five real tests — the kind of things you'd actually want Siri to handle. No retries, no editing out the fails, first tries only. Every test gets a grade.

Watch the tests

First tries only. No edits.

I had no clue what was going to happen. Ten minutes, five tests, and a final report card at the end — running on last year's phone, not the newest model.

5 testsFirst tries onlyLast year's iPhone

The five tests

What I asked, and what happened.

Test 01

Find It For Me

Pass

The challenge

Dig through my texts, photos, and emails. Find pictures of me and my daughter cooking pancakes, then receipts from a Miami trip.

The result

Found the pancake photos, pulled the Johnny Rockets receipt, then surfaced five receipts from September 14–16 and added up the whole trip: $189.74.

Test 02

What's On My Screen?

Pass

The challenge

Understand whatever I'm looking at. I opened my daughter's cheer website and asked Siri to add the competition dates to my calendar.

The result

Dates went straight into the calendar — two all-day events on November 8th, 2026. Then it correctly identified Steve Harvey from a photo on screen.

Test 03

Three Things At Once

Pass

The challenge

One sentence, three jobs, no pauses: set a 6 a.m. alarm, text my wife I love her, and play Kiss From a Rose on YouTube Music.

The result

Alarm set, text sent to Amanda, song playing. It needed a follow-up nudge the first time, then nailed a two-part reminder plus music request in one breath.

Test 04

Keep the Conversation Going

Pass

The challenge

Talk like a normal person with follow-ups: good burger spots nearby, which one's open latest, how far it is, then text the pick to a friend.

The result

Handled every follow-up without losing context — Jack Brown's open until 2 a.m., 4.1 miles away, text ready to send. Genuinely impressive for a beta.

Test 05

Point the Camera

Pass (with a ding)

The challenge

Open the camera, point at stuff, and ask what it is or what it costs — including a Tesla wheel cover, NSYNC bobbleheads, and board games.

The result

Named all five NSYNC members, priced the Tesla Aero cover ($20–$60), and picked Wingspan as the priciest game at Walmart. It did get stuck on the hubcap once.

The verdict

The report card.

Five tests, five passes. I fully expected some "kinda" and at least one fail — it didn't happen.

Finding your stuff

Photos, receipts, even trip totals.

Reading your screen

Calendar dates and face recognition, no hesitation.

Multi-step requests

Needed one nudge, then handled combos in a single breath.

A-

Conversation

Follow-ups just worked, like talking to a person.

Camera smarts

Nailed obscure objects, but got stuck on my Tesla hubcap.

B+

The honest part

It's not perfect.

The answers are great. Getting Siri to actually hear you is the annoying part. Triggering glitches out, and the camera mode got stuck on my Tesla hubcap when I moved on to the next object.

But once it understands what you're saying, it works — and this is still the beta, on last year's phone.

Where it stumbled

Triggering is glitchy — sometimes 'Hey Siri' just doesn't catch, and you have to repeat yourself

The camera mode got stuck on the last image once and needed a reset

It's still beta, so expect the occasional weird pause mid-conversation

FAQ

Siri AI beta questions

What should I test next?

I'm thinking about running these same tests on my watch. Tell me in the comments what you'd want Siri to handle — the best ideas become videos.

Behind the video

The gear I use to make these.

Everything here is sitting in my office right now. If you buy through an Amazon link, I earn a small commission — it helps the channel, and costs you nothing extra.

Sony Alpha a5000

Compact mirrorless camera for talking-head videos.

View on Amazon →

Elgato Facecam

Dedicated webcam when I don't want to rig the mirrorless.

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Elgato Key Light

Bright, dimmable, computer-controlled key light.

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Elgato Stream Deck +

One-press control for lights, scenes, and apps.

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Elgato Wave:3 Mic

Clean mic for voiceovers and screen recordings.

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DJI Mic Mini

Wireless lav mic for away-from-desk shots.

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Elgato Prompter

Built-in screen so I can read while looking at the lens.

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Meross Smart Plug

Reliable HomeKit smart plugs for fans and lamps.

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Govee Smart Bulbs

Color Wi-Fi bulbs with app and voice control.

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EMART Umbrella Lights

Budget-friendly fill lights for even coverage.

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Amazon Associates disclosure: I earn from qualifying purchases. I only list gear I own and use.

Apple says Siri is finally smart. I tested that.

First tries only. No edits.

What I asked, and what happened.

Find It For Me

What's On My Screen?

Three Things At Once

Keep the Conversation Going

Point the Camera

The report card.

It's not perfect.

Where it stumbled

Siri AI beta questions

What should I test next?

The gear I use to make these.

Sony Alpha a5000

Elgato Facecam

Elgato Key Light

Elgato Stream Deck +

Elgato Wave:3 Mic

DJI Mic Mini

Elgato Prompter

Meross Smart Plug

Govee Smart Bulbs

EMART Umbrella Lights

Fluid Voice (Free Wispr Flow Alternative)

Home Assistant + Stream Deck Setup

Check If a GitHub Repo Is Safe

Apple says Siri is finally smart. I tested that.

First tries only. No edits.

What I asked, and what happened.

Find It For Me

What's On My Screen?

Three Things At Once

Keep the Conversation Going

Point the Camera

The report card.

It's not perfect.

Where it stumbled

Siri AI beta questions

Is the new Siri AI actually good now?

What can the iOS 27 Siri AI do?

Do you need the newest iPhone for Siri AI?

What's the biggest problem with the Siri AI beta?

How do I get the Siri AI beta?

What should I test next?

The gear I use to make these.

Sony Alpha a5000

Elgato Facecam

Elgato Key Light

Elgato Stream Deck +

Elgato Wave:3 Mic

DJI Mic Mini

Elgato Prompter

Meross Smart Plug

Govee Smart Bulbs

EMART Umbrella Lights

Keep exploring

Fluid Voice (Free Wispr Flow Alternative)

Home Assistant + Stream Deck Setup

Check If a GitHub Repo Is Safe