Apple adds a Siri camera feature to help split restaurant bills

In short: Apple announced a new “Siri in Camera” feature that lets iPhone users scan a receipt, pick their items, and request payments through Apple Cash.

What happened

Apple unveiled the feature at WWDC 2026, its annual event where it shows what is coming next for iPhone and other Apple devices.

The idea is simple. You open the Camera app, use a Siri mode, and point your phone at a restaurant receipt. The phone then makes each line item on the receipt tappable, like turning the paper bill into a set of buttons.

You can tap the items each person ordered, keep track of who had what, and then send separate Apple Cash payment requests based on those items. Apple Cash is Apple’s built-in way to send money, similar to paying a friend inside a messaging app. Apple executive Sebastien Marineau-Mes described it as selecting what you ordered to split the tab with Apple Cash.

TechCrunch noted that bill splitting apps like Splitwise already do something similar. But Apple’s version is built into the iPhone’s default apps, which may make it easier for more people to actually use.

Apple also said Siri in Camera can be used for other tasks at a restaurant, like showing estimated nutrition information for food.

Why it matters

Splitting a bill in a group can get awkward and slow, especially when people did not order the same things. This feature aims to cut down on the back-and-forth by letting everyone pay for their own items, without needing to download a separate app.

Source: TechCrunch AI