Apple Inc. is planning to open up Siri so it can work with third-party artificial intelligence assistants. This move is seen as an important step toward making the iPhone a stronger platform for AI.
According to people familiar with the plans, this update is expected to arrive with iOS 27 as part of a broader Siri overhaul. Right now, Siri already connects with ChatGPT through OpenAI, but Apple appears ready to expand support to other AI services as well.
The effort is part of Apple trying to improve its standing in the AI space, where competitors in Silicon Valley have moved faster. Siri, which was first introduced nearly 15 years ago, is now at the center of that push. Apple has not officially commented on these plans.
To make this possible, Apple is working on tools that would let chatbot apps from the App Store connect directly with Siri. These tools are still under development, and the people sharing this information asked to remain unnamed since nothing has been announced publicly. The same integrations are expected to work with a future Siri app and other Apple Intelligence features.
In practical terms, this could mean that if users install apps like Google Gemini or Anthropic’s Claude, they will be able to send requests to those services through Siri itself. This would be similar to how ChatGPT has been accessible within Siri since Apple Intelligence first rolled out in 2024.
There is also a financial angle here. By allowing third-party AI subscriptions through the App Store, Apple could open up another source of revenue tied to these services.
It’s worth noting that this update is different from Apple’s ongoing work with Google to rebuild Siri using Gemini models. That collaboration focuses more on the internal technology, while the new “Extensions” system would let users interact with actual third-party AI apps, depending on how those apps are set up.
Following the news, Google’s stock saw a slight drop during Thursday’s session before closing lower, while Apple shares remained mostly steady. This suggests the market is watching these developments closely.
Apple is expected to reveal more details on June 8 during its Worldwide Developers Conference. Still, like many early features, there is a chance some parts could change or be delayed before release. The company has already hinted at “AI advancements” on its official website.
The Extensions system currently being tested would give users control over which AI services connect with Siri. These options would appear in the settings menu for Apple Intelligence and Siri across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27.
“Extensions will let AI agents from installed apps interact with Siri, the Siri app, and other features across your devices,” according to notes found in test versions of the upcoming operating systems. Through this menu, users will be guided to a new App Store section to add extra AI services.
This move would end ChatGPT’s exclusive access within Apple software. From the beginning, there was internal discussion over whether OpenAI was the best partner, with former Apple AI lead John Giannandrea raising concerns about the startup’s longevity and expressing a preference for a Google-based solution.
Before settling on ChatGPT for the Apple Intelligence launch, Apple reportedly ran internal tests comparing several AI chatbots. After evaluating options and negotiating, the company chose OpenAI, considering it the strongest available option at the time.
The new strategy would remove the need for one-off integration agreements like the ChatGPT deal. This approach could allow Apple to bring multiple third-party AI services into Siri faster and make AI functionality more widespread across its operating systems without individual business negotiations.
Currently, Siri queries can be directed to ChatGPT only when users specifically request the OpenAI service. With the new system, users would have the flexibility to choose which AI service responds to each query.
Several major AI platforms already exist as apps on Apple devices, including Perplexity, Amazon’s Alexa, Meta AI, xAI’s Grok, and Microsoft’s Copilot. It’s not yet clear if Apple will allow any AI app to connect with Siri, or if a formal approval process will be required.
During the development of Apple Intelligence, the company envisioned Siri linking to multiple AI services, potentially including specialized chatbots—for instance, one focused on medical advice. Although Apple announced work on Gemini integration in 2024, that effort never came to fruition.
Under this new system, Apple could increase its services revenue by taking a share of paid subscriptions from third-party AI apps promoted through its devices. Apple currently earns from ChatGPT subscriptions by providing its payment system when customers upgrade to premium tiers.
Opening Siri to external AI is only one of several initiatives in progress. Apple is also preparing a Siri app with a refreshed interface, according to Bloomberg News, and plans to unify Siri with Spotlight search while introducing new entry points, such as “Ask Siri” and “Write with Siri” toggles.