AI news ·
Siri gains app control in iOS 27.3, third-party app support follows in spring
Apple is planning Siri upgrades that let the assistant control apps directly, starting with its own software in iOS 27.3 and later expanding to third-party services like Grubhub and OpenTable.
Apple is preparing two Siri upgrades that will give the assistant direct control over apps, starting with its own built-in software and later expanding to third-party services like Grubhub and OpenTable. The moves are part of a push by CEO John Ternus to close the gap with rival AI agents from OpenAI and Meta, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman as relayed by The Verge. Apple has not confirmed any of the reported plans.
The first upgrade, expected in iOS 27.3, lets Siri perform detailed actions inside Apple's own apps - rotating and cropping photos, or tidying Safari tabs. The second and larger step opens Siri to outside apps, where it could order food or reserve a table without the user opening those apps manually. Gurman reports that Ternus is pressing AI chief Craig Federighi to accelerate the roadmap. Federighi has already delivered a working Siri AI on a compressed timeline, but Apple does not believe it is keeping pace.
The gap Siri is trying to close
The comparison points are not ChatGPT-style chatbots. The Verge names OpenAI's Dots and Meta's Muse as the agents Apple is measured against. These systems can track goals, determine next steps, and continue pursuing objectives without the user initiating each action. Gurman says Apple wants Siri to act more like an agent as early as next year, given market demand, though he frames that step as a possibility rather than a firm schedule.
The third-party integration depends on developers. Grubhub and OpenTable appear only as illustrations of what could become possible, not confirmed launch partners. No pricing, device list, or regional rollout details have surfaced.
What to watch next
The software calendar provides the first test. If iOS 27.3 ships with Photos and Safari control, that would back the near-term claims. A developer announcement on third-party Siri access, a beta with the promised app controls, or any Apple statement on persistent tasks would signal the agent step is materializing. Meanwhile, the target is moving: Meta's free Muse and Meta AI now run on models taught by Wonder, so the benchmark Apple is chasing is already shifting.
Why this matters for product development and IT teams
For product managers and developers, the timeline matters less than the direction. Apple opening Siri to third-party app control would create a new surface for user interactions - one where an AI assistant, not a screen tap, initiates actions. AI Product Strategy Courses can help teams think through how their apps might need to expose functionality to an agent layer. Customer support and hospitality teams should watch whether restaurant booking and food ordering become early integration targets, as Gurman's examples suggest. IT and development leads will need to assess what Siri's agent capabilities mean for app architecture - specifically, how to design for an assistant that can act on a user's behalf across sessions. AI Agent Courses offer frameworks for understanding the shift from command-based interfaces to goal-driven agents.