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Apple kicked off its software year with WWDC 2026 – but not everything planned for iOS 27 was shown on stage. According to a report, three major features are still being held back and are expected to be released by September. One of them could change which AI assistants Siri will work with in the future.
This year's developer conference focused primarily on the new Siri AI and a noticeably more stable system. However, the full scope of iOS 27's features is apparently not yet complete: According to a report by Mark Gurman for Bloomberg, three significant new features are still in development that didn't make it into the WWDC keynote. They are expected to be released by September – around the time of the anticipated launch of the next iPhone generation. Apple has not yet confirmed these features, so this information should be treated with caution.
A slimmer version of the Modular Ultra dial
The first of the three new features concerns the Apple Watch. Apple is said to have developed a simplified version of the "Modular Ultra" watch face, which has so far been reserved for the Apple Watch Ultra. The streamlined version would be available for the report according to them, they will adopt the large clock display of the original, but will forgo the second row of complications.
This watch face wasn't shown at WWDC. It's more likely that Apple will unveil it in September along with the new Apple Watch models expected at that time. For users who appreciate the striking look of the Modular Ultra design but don't need the full information density, this would be a logical addition.
Siri is opening up to more AI assistants
The second, and potentially most consequential, innovation revolves around the voice assistant itself. One of the biggest rumors surrounding iOS 27 was that Siri would eventually support other chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. So far, Apple only integrates ChatGPT - a legacy of the original partnership with OpenAI from 2024, which enabled the first Siri integration. However, Apple's long-term vision extends beyond this.
With iOS 27, Apple aimed to allow apps to connect directly to Siri via an extensions interface, instead of negotiating separate contracts with each interested provider. The difference is significant: this would be a standard third-party integration – meaning that the same data privacy guarantees would likely not apply as with the original ChatGPT collaboration, since it is not a partnership. According to the report, Apple is already working on migrating ChatGPT to this new integration model, but nothing has yet been made visible.
Specifically, Apple has reportedly already spoken with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google about supporting the new system – including details on the permissions these providers would need to apply for and integrate into their apps. The report considers it likely that the feature will eventually be released.
Four possible reasons for the delay
The report attributes the lack of expansion so far to several considerations:
- Extensive third-party integration would be difficult to reconcile with Apple's stance against the Digital Markets Act, which already leads to several missing features in the EU.
- If more powerful models were integrated from the start, the in-house Siri AI would be less in the spotlight.
- Apple may want to avoid a legal battle with OpenAI, which the company is said to have threatened.
- Additional third-party integrations alongside the Gemini partnership could cause unnecessary confusion.
As September approaches, more should become known about the exact functionality of these enhancements. Theoretically, any reputable AI company could implement them – and their functions could then be accessed via Siri.
A freely customizable camera app
The third new feature concerns the camera. iOS 27 was originally supposed to include a fully customizable camera app, allowing users to move the controls to their preferred position. However, this option did not appear in the first developer beta, while other camera and photo innovations have already made their way into the system – including Siri integration within the camera itself.
According to the report, the customizable camera app is expected to be released in September, coinciding with the anticipated launch of the iPhone 18 Pro. A later release would also give the associated release cycle more substance.
September as the next fixed date for iOS 27
All three features share the commonality that, according to current information, they are not expected to be released at the start of the beta, but rather in late summer. This fits a pattern that has repeated itself at Apple in recent years: Some of the announced new features are spread across several update steps, instead of being available all at launch. If this information is confirmed, the iPhone launch in September would be the next moment when the picture of iOS 27 becomes significantly clearer. (Image: Shutterstock / Samuel Boivin)
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