iOS 27 will prioritize AI and performance, not flashy features
What's the story
Apple's next major iOS update, iOS 27, will prioritize performance and artificial intelligence (AI) enhancements, as per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This shift in focus comes after the recent launch of iOS 26 with its Liquid Glass design overhaul and a slew of half-baked AI features introduced since Apple Intelligence's debut last year.
Strategy
A Snow Leopard approach
Gurman revealed that Apple's engineering teams are currently working on refining its operating systems. Their goal is to eliminate unnecessary elements, fix bugs, and find ways to significantly improve performance and overall quality. This strategy is reminiscent of the 2009 Mac release, Snow Leopard, which focused on bug fixes, decluttering and efficiency rather than introducing a slew of new features.
AI focus
AI-powered Siri may debut before iOS 27
Along with performance improvements, Apple is also focusing on enhancing its AI capabilities. The company is developing an AI web search tool and revamping Apple Intelligence. There are also plans to integrate this advanced technology into more apps. Gurman expects the smarter, more personalized AI-powered Siri that Apple has been teasing since 2024 will debut before iOS 27, possibly with iOS 26.4 sometime early next year.