tech
Why Apple built a third-party AI system for Siri and then refused to show it at WWDC
iOS 27 beta has an Extensions system for third-party AI in Siri, but Apple skipped the announcement at WWDC amid EU, legal, and messaging headwinds.
TL;DR
- iOS 27 beta contains underlying support for an 'Extensions' framework that would enable users to switch between AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini within Siri.
- Apple has held discussions with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google regarding entitlements for this framework.
- The feature was deliberately excluded from the WWDC keynote due to regulatory issues with the EU's Digital Markets Act.
- OpenAI is reportedly preparing possible legal action against Apple over perceived friction in their ChatGPT partnership.
- Announcing the Extensions framework would have conflicted with Apple's messaging about its own rebuilt Siri AI.
- The Siri AI beta is described as functional but buggy, with performance limitations.
- The Extensions architecture is built to accommodate third-party AI models, potentially turning Siri into a platform.
- References to a foldable device (V68) and touch-screen MacBooks (K114, K116) suggest hardware development in parallel with the Extensions framework.
- The launch timeline for the Extensions framework remains uncertain due to regulatory, legal, and strategic challenges.