What the New Siri AI Is and Who Can Use It
The new Siri AI is Apple’s upgraded version of its voice assistant, powered by Apple Intelligence to offer more conversational answers, personal context, and actions across apps on compatible devices running the latest beta software. Apple has started rolling out Siri AI through early betas of iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate, with a waitlist in place for most users. According to ZDNET, Siri AI can access broader world knowledge, understand what’s on your screen, draft text, act inside apps, and sync conversation history across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay, AirPods, and Vision Pro. Right now, Siri AI access depends on both your device and your willingness to install beta software. The good news: you can request access through the official Apple Siri waitlist, and if you have a compatible MacBook, you can skip the queue with a quick Terminal command.
Path One: Join the Apple Siri Waitlist on iPhone
If you want official Siri AI access, you’ll need an eligible iPhone and the iOS 27 developer beta. ZDNET notes that Siri AI currently requires an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, any iPhone 16 model, or any iPhone 17 model running the iOS 27 developer beta. First, create or sign in to a free Apple Developer account via Apple’s Developer website or the Apple Developer app, accept the terms, then go to Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates on your iPhone and pick iOS 27 Developer Beta. Install the update after backing up your data, as developer betas can cause app glitches and battery issues. When the phone restarts, open Settings again, go to Apple Intelligence and Siri, tap Try New Siri, and follow the prompts to join the Apple Siri waitlist. You’ll get a notification when your Siri AI access is ready.
Path Two: Skip the Waitlist with MacBook Siri AI
On a MacBook running the macOS 27 Golden Gate developer beta, you can bypass the Siri AI waitlist and turn on MacBook Siri AI immediately. Lifehacker reports that once you install the macOS 27 beta, a single Terminal command disables the built-in waitlist flag for Siri AI on macOS. Before you start, back up important files and understand that both the beta and this workaround use unfinished software that can affect stability or data. After confirming the beta is installed, open the Terminal app from Applications > Utilities. Paste the command published by MacRumors and shared by Lifehacker, which writes to the GenerativeModels feature flags plist and sets EnhancedSiriWaitlist to disabled, then press Enter and authenticate with your admin password. Once the change is applied, you should be able to turn on the new Siri AI in your Mac’s Settings without waiting for Apple to approve your spot in line.
Step-by-Step: Using Terminal to Unlock Siri AI on macOS
To make the Siri AI access change on macOS 27, follow a careful sequence. First, ensure your MacBook is on the macOS 27 Golden Gate developer beta and that you’ve backed up your system. Open Terminal and paste the command exactly as described by Lifehacker: it targets /Library/Preferences/FeatureFlags/Domain/GenerativeModels.plist and adds the EnhancedSiriWaitlist key with Enabled set to NO. This tells macOS not to gate Siri AI behind the Apple Siri waitlist. Press Enter, supply your admin password when prompted, and then restart your Mac. After rebooting, open System Settings, go to the Siri or Apple Intelligence section (depending on the current beta layout), and look for options to enable the new Siri AI. Because you are changing system-level feature flags, avoid editing anything else in Terminal unless you know what it does, and be prepared to revert to a stable macOS release if problems appear.
Where Siri AI Works Best Today: Device Comparison and Risks
Siri AI access varies across Apple’s platforms. On iPhone, iPad, and other mobile devices, the only supported route today is through beta software and the Apple Siri waitlist, which means you may wait days or longer before you see New Siri appear. By contrast, MacBook Siri AI on macOS 27 can be enabled right away using the Terminal command workaround, giving Mac users more immediate Siri AI access. Apple has said Siri AI will be available in beta later this year, starting in English, and it is designed to run across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, CarPlay, AirPods, and Vision Pro. However, all of these paths involve developer betas not meant for everyday reliability. For most people, the safest option is to use a spare device or wait for public betas and the final release, when Siri AI will be available without workarounds or Terminal tweaks.
