Apple Expands Siri AI Access to Third-Party Apps with iOS 27.3

Apple has begun allowing Siri AI to perform actions across third-party applications, a significant expansion announced as part of the iOS 27.3 update. Rolling out on Tuesday, this update enables developers to integrate Siri AI's new features into “all apps.” The voice assistant will now be able to draw on a user's personal context, process natural language prompts, and utilize on-screen awareness to complete requests, according to Apple.

The iOS 27.3 update, currently rolling out as a Developer Preview, also introduces a new “app skills” feature. Third-party developers can create these skills to combine multiple tasks into a single action. Apple's developer documentation specifies that users will not need to mention an app's name in their requests when the app is in the foreground, during a Live Activity, or within a conversation with Siri AI about that specific app. An example cited by Apple illustrates a user requesting a ride, following its Live Activity updates, and then asking Siri to “change my ride pickup to a new address.”

Previously, Apple had made a smaller set of features available to third-party developers, as noted by 9to5Mac. Now, the expanded Siri AI capabilities are also being integrated into Apple’s own suite of applications. These include Calendar, Files, Finder, Journal, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, Notes, Photos, Preview, Reminders, Safari, Shortcuts, and Weather apps. Users will be able to perform actions such as finding a coffee shop visited last week or archiving files dormant for over a year. Apple also states that users can ask Siri AI what it can do within each app.

What to watch: Developers will likely begin integrating these new Siri AI capabilities, potentially enhancing user interaction with a wider range of apps.

Editor's note: The draft effectively integrates all technical details, including the app list and the specific example of the new Siri AI functionality.