Apple's 27.2 updates bring Siri AI memory and five new languages

Apple released its 27.2 software updates on 26 October, covering iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, tvOS and visionOS. The release centres on Siri AI, the company's rebuilt assistant, and arrives alongside a refreshed Apple Music logo. ^[2]

Siri AI in five more languages

With this release, Apple says Siri AI is now available in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, alongside English. ^[1] Apple describes it as an entirely new version of Siri that draws on personal context across messages, emails and photos, can act on what is on the screen, and can use broad world knowledge to answer questions. ^[1] Apple adds that traditional Chinese, Norwegian, Turkish and Vietnamese are due by the end of the year. ^[1]

There are limits. Siri AI is labelled a beta, requires a device with Apple Intelligence switched on and set to a supported language, and is not available to under-13s. ^[1] Apple also says it is currently unavailable in the EU on iOS, iPadOS and watchOS, adding that it is "working constructively with the EU in an attempt to find a path forward". ^[1] Ars Technica notes it is also unavailable in mainland China. ^[2]

What else is new on the iPhone

According to Apple's release notes, as published by Ars Technica, Siri AI can now "recall your past conversations", so a user can ask about something it said before. ^[2] It can draw on more sources, including photos attached in Messages, Calendar event attendees and voicemails, with better results from Safari history and Reading List. ^[2]

A new Excluded Apps setting lets people choose which apps Siri, Search and suggestions can access from one place. ^[2] Granular text selection allows part of a Siri response to be selected and copied. ^[2] The iOS update is listed for all iPhone 16 models and later, plus the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. ^[2]

Beyond Siri, the update adds Suggestions in Messages that help people act on a conversation, such as adding a dinner invitation to the calendar. ^[2] It also adds support for SynthID watermarking in Photos and Image Playground, to help identify whether an image was generated or changed with generative tools, and simple household profiles in the Apple TV app. ^[2] Ars Technica also reports the arrival of Apple Pencil support on the iPhone Duo foldable. ^[2]

On the Mac, macOS Golden Gate 27.2 adds Siri AI context from previous interactions and a wider range of personal context, plus Suggestions in Messages that work with apps such as Calendar and Reminders. ^[2]

Why it matters

For business leaders, the headline is reach. Ars Technica describes the new languages as coming "beyond English", so staff and customers who work in French, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese or Korean can now try it in their own language. ^[2] AppleInsider notes that the assistant can handle multi-step tasks, such as batch editing and sharing a set of photos. ^[3]

The Excluded Apps control and the SynthID support speak to two concerns many firms share: what an assistant can see, and whether content was made by AI. Companies that rely on Apple devices may want to decide how much personal context they are comfortable with staff exposing to Siri before encouraging use.

The EU gap matters too. European organisations cannot use Siri AI on iPhone or iPad for now, and Apple has given no date for that changing. ^{[1] [3]}

The update also carries the new Apple Music branding, which Ars Technica describes as a new Music logo. ^[2]

Source: Apple — Siri AI is available in more languages starting today