At WWDC 2026, Apple will showcase a standalone Siri app: with chat history, file uploads, and auto-deletion of conversations — much like in Messages. But there’s an important detail: the new Siri will launch with a “beta” label, and the label will apparently remain even after the public release of iOS 27 this fall.
Ready to use a standalone Siri app
New Siri in iOS 27: What Features Will Be Shown at WWDC 2026
Details about the standalone Siri app in iOS 27 came from Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, which means this information will almost certainly make it to release, and we’ll see the details at WWDC 2026 during Apple’s presentation. In short, Apple is finally building a chatbot based on Siri — something the company has long avoided.
Siri will even have its own icon on the Home screen
This will be a standalone app with familiar ChatGPT-like logic: conversation history, the ability to start a new text or voice dialogue, and file uploads to Siri. A new system gesture for launching a chat with Siri is also mentioned.
Why Siri Needs Auto-Deletion of Chat History
Auto-deletion options for conversations — similar to Messages
The most practical part of the news is auto-deletion of chat history with Siri. According to Bloomberg, the app will offer the same options as Messages: delete chats after 30 days, after a year, or keep them indefinitely.
Why this matters in practice:
- if you ask Siri about health, finances, or personal matters, the conversation won’t accumulate for years
- no need to manually clear history — the phone will do it automatically
- less data in Apple’s cloud — less risk if your account is compromised
This isn’t a unique feature: something similar has long been available in ChatGPT and in Apple’s own Messages. But if you don’t want your AI conversations stored forever, this option will come in handy.
Siri Powered by Google Gemini: How It Will Work on iPhone
Another important detail is what will power all of this. Bloomberg claims that Apple has reached an agreement with Google to use Gemini models, but requests will go through Apple’s servers (Private Cloud Compute), not directly to Google.
Gemini will become part of Siri
What this means for iPhone owners:
- Google, under the terms of the deal, is not supposed to use your Siri conversations to train its models
- data is processed on Apple’s infrastructure, not sent to a third-party company
- some details remain undisclosed — for example, which requests are processed on-device and which in the cloud
It’s worth being cautious with expectations here: how well the new Siri actually responds will depend on the quality of integration with Gemini. For now, this is a promise, not a proven fact.
What the “Beta” Label on the New Siri Means
According to Bloomberg, in internal builds of iOS 27, the new Siri has a “beta” label next to it and there’s a separate toggle to opt out of the beta. Gurman believes the label will remain in the public release of iOS 27 this fall.
This isn’t the first time Apple has done this: Apple Intelligence in iOS 18 also launched with a “beta” label. Essentially, the company is preemptively reducing its liability: if Siri makes mistakes, technically it’s still a test feature.
An important nuance — users will be able to opt out of the new Siri. It’s unclear whether this will be a separate toggle or shared with Apple Intelligence. For those who don’t need or don’t like the new assistant, this option is useful.
What the Standalone Siri App Will Look Like on iPhone
Another detail from the report: the app will have two home screen modes. You can go straight to a new conversation window — like in ChatGPT — or start with a list of conversations, like in Messages. It might seem like a small thing, but it’s convenient. Some people want to quickly ask a question, while others want to return to an old conversation. Apple simply lets you choose rather than forcing one option.
Whether using Siri as a standalone app will be convenient is a big question
If you actively use voice assistants or already use ChatGPT directly from your iPhone, the new Siri app is worth trying right after release — especially if Apple Intelligence is already working for you.
And if Siri annoys you and you’ve long since turned it off — you can safely skip this news: Apple promises the ability to opt out of the beta, and everything could still change before fall. And don’t forget: for now, this is a rumor from Bloomberg, not an announcement. We’ll see the real picture at WWDC 2026 in June.
