Apple plans to allow third-party AI chatbots to integrate with Siri in iOS 27, according to Bloomberg, ending OpenAI's exclusive access to the iPhone's voice assistant.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
iPhone users will be able to send questions to Claude, Gemini, Grok, or other chatbots from within Siri, just like the current ChatGPT integration. The change opens Siri to any AI app installed through the App Store.
How It Will Work
Users will select their preferred AI services through new 'Extensions' options in the Apple Intelligence and Siri section of Settings. Apple will provide download links for chatbot apps that support the feature.
Currently, if Siri can't handle a question, it suggests sending it to ChatGPT. Under the new system, that suggestion could point to Claude, Gemini, or whichever service the user has chosen.
Bloomberg suggests the expansion will allow Apple to generate more revenue from third-party AI subscriptions made through the App Store, where Apple takes up to 30% of payments.
Apple's Own Chatbot
Apple is still planning a full Siri overhaul. The company is building its own chatbot version of Siri based on Google's Gemini models. Third-party extensions will give users the option to direct requests to their favourite chatbot instead of the built-in assistant.
AI companies will need to enable support for the new feature in iOS 27. The integration will also work with iPadOS 27 and macOS 27.
Musk's Lawsuit
The move may address Elon Musk's complaints about the Apple-OpenAI partnership. His xAI startup sued Apple and OpenAI in 2025, accusing them of conspiring to 'ensure their continued dominance' in the AI market. Musk has been vocal about wanting Grok available on the iPhone alongside ChatGPT.
With iOS 27, Grok and any other chatbot that supports the feature will have equal access to Siri integration.
Timeline
Apple plans to announce the new Siri and third-party integration option when it unveils iOS 27 at the June 8 WWDC 2026 keynote. The feature would then ship with iOS 27 in the fall.
For users, the change means more choice. For AI companies, it means a level playing field on the world's most valuable smartphone platform. For Apple, it means App Store revenue from whichever AI assistant wins users' loyalty.
What This Means for Developers
AI companies will need to build support for Apple's new Extensions API to integrate with Siri. This likely means updating their iOS apps to handle voice queries and respond in a format Siri can present to users. The technical requirements haven't been disclosed yet, but developers can expect documentation at WWDC.
The change could also reshape pricing for AI services. With Apple taking up to 30% of App Store subscriptions, companies like Anthropic and Google may need to adjust their pricing or push users toward web-based subscriptions to avoid the Apple tax.
The Bigger Picture
Apple's move reflects a broader industry trend: the AI assistant layer is becoming commoditized. Rather than betting everything on building the best AI, Apple is positioning itself as the platform that hosts them all. It's the same playbook Apple used with streaming services in the TV app.
The question now is whether users actually want to choose their AI assistant, or whether most will simply use whatever comes by default. History suggests defaults win. But for power users who prefer Claude's coding abilities or Gemini's multimodal features, iOS 27 will finally offer a choice.
TLDR
Apple plans to allow third-party AI chatbots to integrate with Siri in iOS 27, ending OpenAI's exclusive partnership. iPhone users will be able to route queries to Claude, Gemini, Grok, or other chatbots through new Extensions settings in the Apple Intelligence section. The change will allow Apple to earn revenue from third-party AI subscriptions through the App Store. Apple is also building its own chatbot version of Siri based on Google's Gemini models. The announcement is expected at WWDC 2026 on June 8.
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