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Apple has been lagging for the better part of the last year when it comes to the AI wars, but a recent batch of leaked screenshot renders convinces me that the company is moving in the right direction. Shared by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, these images give us our first big look at iOS 27, including a dedicated Siri app, overhauled search functions, and new AI editing tools.
While the illustrations are based on internal descriptions obtained by Bloomberg, they nonetheless make WWDC 2026 a bit more exciting — which is where we’ll likely get our first official preview of Apple’s next mobile software. We’re less than a couple of weeks away, and I suspect these new Siri and AI features will also make their way in some capacity to Apple's other platforms, like iPadOS 27 and the next macOS.
There’s a lot to unpack here, so let me break it all down and tell you what has me most excited.
Dedicated Siri app looks familiar
Without question, the screenshot renders give us a clear idea of the long-rumored, dedicated Siri app that’s expected to arrive with iOS 27. Most notably, the new Siri is tipped to live within the Dynamic Island, where it’ll act as an always-on agent ready to perform whatever task you throw at it. Plus, it works across the entire operating system and can be more proactive because of how it draws on personal information and web data to complete tasks.
This looks and feels a lot like Gemini’s task automation feature that I tested firsthand with the Galaxy S26. If this new Siri can place a Dunkin’ Donuts order through DoorDash just like Gemini, then Apple is going to be well-positioned. Similar to other chatbots, the new Siri app will also house your previous chat history within a conversational interface that packages a voice mode, text field, and attachment picker — looking very much like the standalone Gemini and ChatGPT apps.
There are also new Search and Ask functions within the Siri app that are accessed by swiping down from the top center of the interface at any time, which relegates Notifications access to a swipe down from the left side. This new interface is much more suitable for typing to Siri, but it'll also surface access to frequently used apps, recent web searches, and more.
Is Apple saying goodbye to Visual Intelligence?
Another intriguing detail about the new Siri app is that it appears to be missing the one feature that keeps me glued to Gemini Live: the ability to tap into my phone’s camera for real-time visual search. Even though this is exactly what Visual Intelligence is built for, the leaks suggest Apple could be phasing it out as a standalone feature with iOS 27 — and simply integrating Siri's eyes directly into the native Camera app.
The screenshot renders show that the iOS 27 Camera app will feature a dedicated Siri mode right on the bottom mode carousel. While it’s a logical addition, I hope there’s a shortcut within the Siri app to launch it as well. Nonetheless, it’ll finally give Siri the ability to see what you’re looking at so you can ask contextual questions.
Beyond the AI integrations, these renders also reveal how the Camera app is evolving to appeal to enthusiasts. Specifically, the interface is becoming much more customizable, introducing a new Add Widgets panel for the features that matter most to mobile photographers — like focal depth and precise exposure settings.
Even though these changes don’t indicate a true, fully manual mode, it’s incredibly reassuring to see the stock Camera app continue to evolve.
More AI tools for editing and automation
New Apple Intelligence features were virtually nonexistent with the release of iOS 26, but Apple clearly intends to rectify that with iOS 27. The platform is finally gaining advanced AI editing tools to rival what Google and Samsung already offer with their flagship devices.
The platform is finally gaining advanced AI editing tools to rival what Google and Samsung already offer with their flagship devices.
Specifically, the Photos app appears to be getting new features called Reframe and Extend, which I suspect will use generative AI to do things like adding context elements to an existing photo. These tools are nothing new, of course, as I’ve been using them for a couple of years now on rival Android phones.
Other new Apple Intelligence features expected to arrive include a system-wide grammar checker and a natural-language, prompt-based photo search tool. The latter sounds awfully similar to the Ask Photos feature that I first tried out with the Pixel 10 last fall, which has since been integrated as a native feature within Google Photos (which is also available on iPhone).
Apple could also be planning a revamped Shortcuts app that can build complex automations using basic natural language. I really love this prospect because if you’ve ever tried to manually map out automations, you know they can quickly become incredibly time-consuming. Personally, I would much rather just speak what I want and let Apple Intelligence handle the rest.
Additional AI tools rumored for iOS 27 include AI-generated wallpapers, a revamped Image Playground, and an updated Genmoji custom emoji creator.
Based on what’s been revealed so far, there’s no arguing that Apple is going all-in on Apple Intelligence with iOS 27. While it's obvious that even more will be revealed at WWDC 2026 in a couple of weeks, these leaked features alone finally put the iPhone on equal footing with its rivals.
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