iOS 27 public beta: 5 features AI teams should test now

Key Takeaways

• Siri now runs on Apple Foundation Models built on Google's Gemini, with a dedicated chat app for the first time
• The Clean Up tool in Photos has been significantly improved for AI-powered object removal
• iOS 27's Liquid Glass design is Apple's biggest visual overhaul since iOS 7 in 2013

Apple released the iOS 27 public beta this week, three months ahead of the general release in September. The update brings a standalone Siri AI app, a rebuilt photo editing tool, and a design overhaul called Liquid Glass. For product teams building on Apple platforms, this beta offers an early look at how Apple is positioning its AI capabilities against Google and OpenAI.

Siri finally gets its own app

The biggest change in iOS 27 is Siri. Apple's assistant has struggled for years with basic requests, lagging behind Google Assistant and Alexa in accuracy and contextual understanding. iOS 27 addresses both problems at once: Siri is now powered by Apple Foundation Models based on Google's Gemini architecture, and it ships with a dedicated app.

The Siri app works like ChatGPT or Google Gemini. You can type or speak queries, scroll through conversation history, and pick up previous threads. This is a first for Siri. Until now, every interaction has been ephemeral. You asked something, Siri answered (or didn't), and the context vanished. Persistent conversations change that dynamic entirely.

For teams building AI assistants or voice interfaces, Siri's new architecture signals where Apple thinks conversational AI is headed: chat-based, context-aware, and accessible through both voice and text. If you're designing AI experiences for iOS, assume users will now expect conversation memory and cross-session continuity.

Photo editing catches up to third-party tools

The Clean Up tool in the Photos app has been mediocre. Object removal left visible artifacts, struggled with complex backgrounds, and couldn't match what Adobe or Canva offered. iOS 27's Clean Up tool is a genuine improvement. Apple claims it can now handle object removal without the smearing and edge distortion that plagued earlier versions.

This matters for product teams because it raises the baseline. If Apple's default photo tool can cleanly remove a person from a beach photo, users will expect at least that level of quality from any image editing feature you ship. The bar has moved.

Liquid Glass: the first major redesign since 2013

iOS 27 introduces Liquid Glass, a design language built around translucency and depth. Every system UI element, from buttons to navigation bars, now has a glass-like appearance that responds to what's behind it. Apple calls this the biggest visual change since iOS 7, when Jony Ive stripped out skeuomorphism and introduced flat design.

Translucent, layered interfaces require rethinking how you present content. If your app uses custom navigation or overlays, the iOS 27 beta is the time to test whether your elements clash with the new system chrome. Users will notice inconsistencies.

Why the Gemini partnership matters

Apple licensing Google's Gemini models for Siri is a significant shift. Apple has built its brand on vertical integration and in-house technology. Outsourcing the AI backbone of its personal assistant suggests Apple's own models weren't competitive, or at least weren't ready in time.

This doesn't mean Apple is abandoning on-device AI. Apple Intelligence, announced last year, still runs local models for privacy-sensitive tasks. But for the conversational heavy lifting, Siri now depends on Google's infrastructure. Teams building for Apple platforms should expect a hybrid approach: cloud-based reasoning through Gemini, local inference through Apple Intelligence.

How to install the iOS 27 public beta

Anyone can download the iOS 27 public beta from Apple's Beta Software Program. You'll need to sign in with your Apple ID and enroll your device. Beta software can have bugs. Don't install it on your primary work phone unless you're prepared for instability. Use a secondary device for testing.

Apple typically releases the final version of iOS in September alongside new iPhone hardware. The public beta gives developers and curious users about two months of testing before the stable release reaches over a billion iPhones worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which iPhones support iOS 27?

Apple has not published a final compatibility list for iOS 27. Based on Apple's pattern of supporting iPhones for roughly eight years, devices from iPhone 12 onward are likely supported. Check Apple's beta program page for confirmed devices.

Is the iOS 27 public beta stable enough for daily use?

Public betas are more stable than developer betas but still contain bugs. Apple warns against installing beta software on primary devices. Battery drain, app crashes, and connectivity issues are common in early beta builds.

What AI models power Siri in iOS 27?

Siri now runs on Apple Foundation Models, which are built on Google's Gemini architecture. This partnership represents Apple's first major use of external AI models for its core assistant.

When will iOS 27 be released to everyone?

Apple typically releases major iOS versions in September, around the same time as new iPhone announcements. The stable iOS 27 release is expected in mid-September 2025.

Source: Fast Company / Michael Grothaus