New Siri will reportedly let you voice control your iPhone apps — this could change everything

Siri
(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

More than a year ago, during WWDC 2024, Apple teased an upgraded AI-powered Siri that would access information and tasks from various apps and systems on your iPhone. Thanks to Apple's ongoing struggles with AI, the promised version of Siri has yet to be released.

But we may get a taste in 2026. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple is working on a version of Siri that can find personal information to handle requests via voice commands.

Gurman claims that the true upgrade for Siri is an upgraded version of App Intents, which would "make Siri the true hands-free controller of your iPhone."

App Intents is a developer framework that allows them to create access to their app via different systems like voice, search, or Apple Shortcuts.

Person wearing Apple Watch activating Siri

(Image credit: Wachiwit / Getty Images)

The new App Intents will let you control your phone and apps through Siri using your voice. An example would be telling Siri to find a photo, edit it, and send it to someone via text. Alternatively, it could potentially log in to a service or app on your behalf.

Apple is reportedly testing the updated feature with apps such as AllTrails, Amazon, Facebook, Temu, Threads, WhatsApp, YouTube and select games. The company might limit or exclude access to banking apps or other "sensitivity" categories, a move that makes sense for security and privacy.

Gurman notes that this upgrade isn't about "making Siri smarter." Instead, it gives users a new, voice-first way to interact. With Siri lagging behind AI assistants from Google and OpenAI, this could be a significant shift if Apple can get it working effectively.

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Scott Younker
West Coast Reporter

Scott Younker is the West Coast Reporter at Tom’s Guide. He covers all the lastest tech news. He’s been involved in tech since 2011 at various outlets and is on an ongoing hunt to build the easiest to use home media system. When not writing about the latest devices, you are more than welcome to discuss board games or disc golf with him. He also handles all the Connections coverage on Tom's Guide and has been playing the addictive NYT game since it released.

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