Beyond Siri: Here are the practical AI features coming to your iPhone in iOS 27

Apple's iOS 27 update, expected later this fall, will embed artificial intelligence features directly into core iPhone apps like Messages, Mail, and Calendar, aiming to make routine tasks such as splitting bills and updating passwords more automated [1]. The new features rely on Apple Intelligence, the company's suite of AI tools announced in 2024, which uses a combination of on-device and server processing [5]. Unlike a standalone chatbot, these capabilities are designed to surface within existing workflows. For instance, a new bill-splitting tool uses Apple Cash and the camera. A user can photograph a restaurant receipt, and Apple Intelligence extracts the items, tip, and total. Diners in a group chat can then select their orders, even choosing a half-share, before paying with a double-click [1]. The feature requests each person's portion of the tax and tip automatically [1]. A separate password-updating feature aims to address the persistent risk of data breaches. The system identifies weak or compromised credentials and then navigates websites to upgrade them to more secure versions without manual user effort [1]. This arrives as the broader Internet of Things ecosystem, which encompasses connected consumer devices, continues to face scrutiny over privacy and security vulnerabilities [3]. In the Messages app, Apple Intelligence will offer one-tap suggestions based on conversation context. If a friend asks to borrow an item, the system might prompt the user to add a reminder. If someone requests photos from an event, it can suggest relevant images by analyzing keywords, locations, and people in the Photos library [1]. The Call Context feature pulls confirmation codes or other details from the Mail app and displays them on the call screen during customer service calls, with processing done entirely on the device [1]. Calendar and Shortcuts are also gaining natural language inputs. Users can describe an event to add it to their calendar, with Apple Intelligence extracting contacts and locations [1]. The Shortcuts app, which allows task automation, will let users configure workflows by simply describing what they want their iPhone to do, such as setting an alarm based on the next day's calendar events [1]. These app-level integrations mark a continuation of Apple's strategy of tight hardware and software control, a practice that extends back to its custom silicon design for devices including the iPhone and Mac [4]. The company's approach contrasts with earlier smart assistant models. Amazon's Alexa, for example, launched in 2014 primarily as a voice interface for a smart speaker, focusing on commands, media playback, and home automation [2]. Apple's latest update instead distributes AI across visual and textual interfaces within apps, reducing the need for a single conversational assistant. The Home app will similarly use Apple Intelligence to group multiple smart home notifications—such as a garage door opening and a door unlocking—into a single summary, cutting down on alert spam [1]. Safari will also organize open browser tabs into topic-based groups, like travel or shopping, without exposing browsing data to Apple [1].