Apple to Open Siri to Third-Party AI Providers in iOS 27

Apple will open Siri to third-party AI chatbot applications, a significant shift in strategy for the tech giant, according to reports from Bloomberg and multiple tech news outlets. The change, slated for unveiling on June 8 at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) alongside the release of iOS 27, marks a departure from Apple’s previous exclusive partnership with OpenAI and its ChatGPT technology.

For the past year, Siri has leveraged ChatGPT for more complex queries, forwarding requests beyond its native capabilities to OpenAI’s system. However, Apple is now preparing to allow users to select alternative AI providers, integrating them directly into the Siri experience. This will be achieved through a new Extensions system accessible via the App Store, allowing developers to create integrations for their AI chatbot applications, such as Anthropic’s Claude.

The move represents a fundamental change in Apple’s approach to artificial intelligence. Rather than forging individual deals with multiple AI companies, Apple will facilitate a marketplace where users can choose and subscribe to the AI services they prefer. Users will manage these subscriptions through the App Store, with Apple collecting a commission on each transaction. This model shifts Apple from a direct AI provider to a platform facilitator, relying on standard App Store revenue sharing.

According to a message found in test versions of the upcoming operating systems, “Extensions allow agents from installed apps to operate with Siri, the Siri app and other features on your devices.” Users will be directed to a new section within the App Store to add these AI services. AI chatbot apps will need to be updated to support the new Siri integration following the official announcement.

While opening Siri to third parties, Apple will also continue to enhance its own AI capabilities. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg reports that the core Siri experience will be updated to utilize Google’s Gemini AI models, powering features under the broader “Apple Intelligence” umbrella. This suggests a dual-track strategy, with Apple both leveraging external AI providers and developing its own in-house AI technology.

The change also extends to other Apple operating systems, with the new system planned for implementation in iPadOS 27 and macOS 27. Starting with the iOS 26.4 release, AI chatbots can integrate with CarPlay for the first time, foreshadowing the broader integration to reach with iOS 27. The shift to an open platform for Siri represents a significant strategic adjustment for Apple, aligning its approach with the growing ecosystem of AI chatbots and positioning the company to capitalize on the expanding market through its established App Store infrastructure.