What the Siri AI Waitlist Is and Why It Matters
The Siri AI waitlist is a queue-based early access program that lets eligible users test Apple’s new AI-powered Siri assistant while it is still labeled as beta software and under active development, before the features roll out more widely to the general public. Apple’s revamped Siri, introduced at WWDC as part of its Apple Intelligence push, is designed to move the assistant from basic voice commands to a conversational AI that understands context, can take actions across apps, and syncs chats across devices through iCloud. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new Siri will appear as a beta and you will need to join a waitlist to try it. That beta label means you should expect ongoing refinements, occasional glitches, and feature changes as Apple improves the experience.
Check Your Device and Apple Intelligence Beta Requirements
Before you can get new Siri AI access, you need the right hardware and software. Siri AI is part of Apple Intelligence, and Apple’s support information indicates it runs on “iPhone 15 Pro models, and iPhone 16 models or later,” which are described as Apple Intelligence–enabled devices. In practice, that means you should plan on using an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, or newer hardware to try the Apple Intelligence beta. You will also need the iOS 27 developer beta, because Siri AI is currently tied to that release and not to older versions of iOS. Apple has said Siri AI will be available in beta later this year, starting in English, so if your phone is compatible and you are comfortable with test software, you can prepare it now to join the Siri AI waitlist.
Join Apple’s Developer Program and Install the iOS 27 Beta
To join Apple beta access for Siri AI, you first need to install the iOS 27 developer beta on a supported iPhone. Apple no longer limits beta access to paid developer accounts; a free Apple Developer account is enough to download and install the beta software. Sign in at Apple’s Developer website or via the Apple Developer app, agree to the terms, and link the Apple ID you use on your iPhone. Then, on that iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates, choose iOS 27 Developer Beta, return to the Software Update screen, and install. Because developer betas are unfinished, Apple and reviewers warn that apps may crash, battery life can suffer, and features can disappear, so it is wise to install the beta on a secondary device rather than your main daily phone.
How to Join the Siri AI Waitlist Inside iOS
Once the iOS 27 developer beta is installed and your phone has rebooted, Siri AI will not appear automatically; you still have to join the Siri AI waitlist. Open the Settings app, find the Apple Intelligence and Siri section, and tap Try New Siri. Follow the prompts to opt in to the Apple Intelligence beta experience and confirm that you want early new Siri AI access. When Apple reaches your place in the Siri AI waitlist, you will receive a notification that the new Siri is available on your device. Apple has not shared how long this wait may be, but it has committed to launching Siri AI in beta later this year, so approval times may change as Apple scales the rollout and continues to refine features.
What to Expect From the New Siri AI Beta Experience
Siri AI is described by Apple as “a dramatically more capable and conversational assistant” that helps you find information and get things done throughout the day. Powered by Apple Intelligence and, according to Mark Gurman, Google’s Gemini models, the new Siri can use personal context from messages, emails, photos, notes, and what is on screen to answer questions and take actions across apps, including drafting emails and editing or sharing photos. It behaves more like a chatbot similar to Gemini or ChatGPT, with detailed responses, back-and-forth conversation, and a dedicated app to view conversation history. Gurman reports that Siri chats will sync across Apple devices via iCloud, and that you can set Siri to forget your history every 30 days, every year, or never, giving you control over how long your assistant data is stored while you test the beta features.
