Apple is preparing a major Siri shake-up that could finally make the iPhone’s assistant feel genuinely useful in 2026. Instead of relying on a single outside AI partner, Apple is expected to let Siri work with multiple third-party chatbots, giving users real choice in how Siri answers tougher questions.
Reports indicate that iOS 27 will introduce a new system called Extensions, designed to plug external AI assistants directly into Siri. With Extensions, supported apps such as ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Anthropic Claude could be enabled as Siri’s “backup brain” when Siri can’t handle a request on its own. For many users, that’s a big deal—Siri has long been criticized for coming up short on complex questions, and this approach could turn it from one of the least helpful assistants into one of the most flexible.
One of the most notable implications is that Apple would no longer treat ChatGPT as the only external option for advanced queries. Right now, Siri can hand off certain requests to ChatGPT when it fails to respond properly. With iOS 27, that handoff may expand into a menu of choices, letting you decide which AI model you want Siri to use depending on your preferences—whether you prioritize creativity, accuracy, coding help, or conversational style.
The reported setup is straightforward: Extensions would appear inside the Settings app. If you’ve installed compatible AI apps from the App Store, you’ll be able to toggle which service Siri should use when it needs outside help. Apple is also expected to bring the same system to iPadOS 27 and macOS 27, creating a consistent AI experience across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
This strategy isn’t just about user flexibility. It could also strengthen Apple’s Services business, since AI subscriptions purchased through the App Store can generate commission revenue. At the same time, Apple is still working on its own deeper Siri upgrade as part of Apple Intelligence, reportedly involving a custom version of Gemini models behind the scenes. The key difference is that Extensions would give users a way to bypass Siri’s default behavior and choose the large language model they trust most.
If the timeline holds, Apple is expected to officially reveal these Siri Extensions at WWDC 2026 on June 8—an announcement that could mark one of the biggest changes to Siri since its launch, and a major step toward making Apple’s assistant competitive in the AI era.
