The Siri AI waitlist is gone in iOS 27: How to try the beta today

Apple has removed the waitlist for Siri AI in iOS 27, so compatible device owners can now get the generative AI-powered assistant as soon as they turn it on. Previously, enabling Siri AI on a supported Apple device running iOS 27 produced a message saying the device would join a queue with wait times that varied. The company could still briefly bring the waitlist back if demand spikes unusually high, according to ZDNET.

The feature works on hardware that supports Apple Intelligence. That includes an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, an iPad Mini A17 Pro or newer or an iPad with an M-series chip, a MacBook Neo or a Mac with an M-series chip, an Apple Watch Series 9 or Ultra 2 or newer, and Apple Vision Pro. Rather than placing users in a queue, Siri AI starts downloading immediately once enabled.

Siri AI is Apple's rebuilt virtual assistant, now driven by generative AI. It is designed to handle complex questions, interpret more natural-sounding phrases, and keep context across a conversation and across the company's devices, rather than returning canned answers. ZDNET's Lance Whitney has recommended its onscreen awareness capability for requesting directions, getting an explanation of something visible on a phone screen, or adding items from the screen to a list. Whitney has also used Siri AI to edit photos by describing the changes he wants.

For years Apple has worked to establish relevance in AI against competitors such as OpenAI and Google. Features including Writing Tools, Genmoji, and Image Playground have contributed, but Apple had lagged well behind in moving its signature voice assistant to generative AI. The company released Siri AI in beta this fall alongside iPadOS 27, MacOS 27 Golden Gate, VisionOS 27, and WatchOS 27. Not every device that can run the latest OS 27 releases can use Siri AI, so hardware compatibility matters for US buyers as well as others.

Language and location requirements also apply. A device must be set to a supported language: English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, or Spanish. The feature is not available in mainland China, and it is not available on iOS, iPadOS, or WatchOS in the European Union, which limits access for users in those markets.

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