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Apple expands Siri’s AI actions across third-party apps
Apple is opening Siri AI’s ability to understand requests and carry out actions to third-party apps, as part of the iOS 27.3 Developer Preview rolling out on Tuesday. The change could make Siri more useful across apps by letting it draw on personal context and what is on screen, while allowing users to describe what they want without always naming the app.
Developers can also create “app skills” that combine several tasks into one action. Apple’s example is changing a ride pickup address through a ride-share app after tracking its Live Activity. The expanded capabilities are also coming to Apple apps including Calendar, Files, Mail, Maps, Messages and Photos; users can ask Siri what it can do in each app.
In short
- Siri AI can now act across third-party apps.
- Developers can combine tasks into app skills.
- The features are rolling out in an iOS 27.3 Developer Preview.
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The case for
Extending Siri’s actions across third-party apps could make everyday tasks easier by letting people use natural requests and combine several steps without switching apps or remembering exact commands. With access to personal context and what is on screen, Siri may respond more usefully, while app skills give developers room to offer integrated services within tools users already choose.
The case against
Broader access to personal context and on-screen information raises reasonable concerns about privacy, user control and how reliably Siri interprets requests across different apps. When one voice request triggers several actions, mistakes may be harder to spot or undo, and users could have less clarity about which app is handling their information or carrying out a task.
Explained simply
Siri is Apple’s voice assistant, built into devices such as the iPhone. It can answer questions and carry out tasks, including actions in Apple’s own apps.
Third-party apps are made by developers outside Apple. Giving Siri ways to work with them could let people make requests using information on their device or what is currently on screen, without always naming the app. Developers can also group several tasks into one “app skill”.
The change matters because it could make Siri a more direct way to use different apps, while giving developers a role in what actions are available. Apple’s own apps, including Calendar, Maps and Photos, are also part of the expansion.
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Originally published by The Verge as “Apple starts giving Siri AI access to third-party apps”.