Technology news and discussion on TalkFuse.
Engadget Podcast: Is Siri AI actually useful in iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate?
Apple has released public betas for iOS 27, macOS Golden Gate and its other upcoming software, prompting the latest Engadget Podcast to weigh in on whether the new Siri AI features actually deliver useful functionality. Hosts Devindra Hardawar and Nathan Ingraham conclude that Siri AI feels genuinely helpful and less intrusive than rivals such as Microsoft's Copilot, a notable verdict given the pressure on Apple to prove its AI efforts can compete after a slow start.
The episode also covers performance improvements across the new operating systems and turns to reports of OpenAI's rumoured hardware ambitions, including a "humanlike" portable AI speaker. The hosts discuss Apple's pointed criticism of OpenAI's hardware business as "rotten to the core" and OpenAI's response, before wrapping up with Engadget reviews and pop culture recommendations.
In short
- Apple's iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate public betas are out now
- Hosts say Siri AI feels useful, better than Microsoft's Copilot
- Podcast also discusses OpenAI's rumoured AI speaker and Apple's criticism
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates for Siri's utility argue that Apple's measured integration of AI features—eschewing aggressive sales tactics and intrusive pop-ups common in competitors like Microsoft's Copilot—genuinely better serves user interests. They contend that meaningful AI assistance derives not from feature maximisation but from thoughtful design solving practical problems without overwhelming users, and that Apple's cautious approach delivers superior real-world utility.
The case against
Critics of Siri's usefulness point to a decade of Apple's voice assistant trailing competitors such as Google Assistant and Alexa, and worry that positive reviews risk repeating a familiar cycle of overstated AI capabilities followed by user disappointment. They argue that positioning restraint as virtue masks limited functionality, and without compelling evidence of substantial practical improvements, enthusiastic industry verdicts may reflect hype rather than utility, leaving average users without persuasive reason to rely on Siri for everyday tasks.
Explained simply
iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate are Apple's newest operating systems for iPhones and computers. They include new artificial intelligence features built into Siri, the company's voice assistant, as Apple seeks to compete in the rapidly advancing AI market.
Apple has faced pressure to prove its AI capabilities can match those of rivals like Microsoft and OpenAI. The company was slower than some competitors to release advanced AI features, making the quality and usefulness of these new Siri functions particularly important to its reputation and market position.
The tech industry is intensely competitive around artificial intelligence, with various companies developing AI assistants and devices for consumers. Apple has also publicly criticised OpenAI's hardware plans, reflecting the tensions between major technology firms as they race to bring advanced AI to the market.
AI Art Culture Gadgets Technology