Apple previews Siri AI update with web answers and on-screen help

In short: Apple has announced a major Siri update that adds new AI features, and it will roll out later this year as a beta.

What happened

Apple used its WWDC 2026 event to show off what it calls its biggest AI launch so far, an upgraded version of Siri. Apple said the update will make Siri more useful across iPhone and other Apple devices.

In demos, Siri could dig up information from a person’s own emails and texts and then suggest helpful next steps. Think of it like a faster assistant that can search your personal “paper trail” for you, instead of you scrolling and guessing where you saw something.

Apple also showed a feature it calls on-screen awareness. That means Siri can understand what you are looking at on your screen and respond with relevant help, such as explaining what is shown or acting on it.

For questions that need fresh information, Apple is using Google’s Gemini to pull up-to-date answers from the web. Apple also said Siri will save chat history, so people can return to previous conversations.

The company stressed that it is taking a careful approach, with software chief Craig Federighi saying Apple is trying to turn advanced technology into tools that feel intuitive. Apple said the new Siri will not be available to everyone right away, and will launch later this year in beta (a test version that can still have bugs).

Why it matters

Many people already use Siri for simple tasks like timers and reminders. If these new features work as shown, Siri could handle more everyday “find it and summarize it” chores, but it will also raise new questions about how much personal data an assistant should be allowed to search.

Source: TechCrunch AI