Apple's Siri app in iOS 27 will automatically remove your discussions. It might also be released as a beta version once more.

      **TL;DR:** The Siri app in Apple’s upcoming iOS 27 will automatically delete chat histories after either 30 days or one year. After a two-year delay, it could still launch in beta.

      Apple's first independent Siri app, set to debut in iOS 27, will feature an auto-delete option for chat histories similar to the Messages application. Users can choose to keep conversations for 30 days, one year, or indefinitely. This feature, highlighted by Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, aims to showcase Apple’s commitment to AI privacy, contrasting with competitors that provide temporary chat modes as optional settings.

      The Siri app will act like a chatbot comparable to ChatGPT or Claude, allowing users to search, continue, or delete previous conversations. Users can access it through traditional Siri activation, a side button, or a new “Search or Ask” mode by swiping down from the top center of the screen. The app will support voice and text inputs, file uploads, and web answers presented with images and bullet points. Users can choose whether the app displays a grid of past conversations or starts a new chat each time.

      Apple’s approach to privacy is a key differentiator and serves as a justification for its practices. Competing chatbots often rely on conversation histories and memory systems to personalize interactions and enhance performance. In contrast, Apple is implementing stricter guidelines on the information retained, embedding these limitations into the system rather than offering them as optional features. Recently, Meta unveiled a temporary chat function, while Apple argues that such privacy measures should not require user consent.

      The strategic backdrop makes the privacy discourse more intriguing than it initially appears. Apple has subtly transitioned much of its AI framework to use Google’s Gemini, investing around $1 billion annually for a custom model with 1.2 trillion parameters that will power the next version of Siri. The company’s existing relationship with OpenAI is deteriorating, with potential legal action over a failed ChatGPT-Siri deal that did not meet OpenAI’s revenue expectations. iOS 27 will introduce a feature called Extensions, permitting users to install alternative AI chatbots and route Siri queries through whichever model they prefer, thereby diminishing ChatGPT’s status from a favored partner to just one among many options.

      Gurman points out that Apple has been vague regarding how the new Siri will be hosted and managed at scale, only stating that the new Siri will utilize Private Cloud Compute—Apple’s extension of its iPhone security model to the cloud. However, it has not confirmed whether it will depend on the same Apple-designed chips, data centers, and security frameworks which the current system employs. This suggests that some workload may rely on Google’s cloud infrastructure, an aspect Apple prefers not to highlight due to its privacy messaging.

      The auto-delete feature serves as strategic positioning, regardless of the coherence of the privacy argument. By opting for structured retention limits instead of indefinite storage, Apple can claim its AI assistant is designed to forget, unlike systems focused on retaining everything for improvement. The value of this distinction for users will depend on whether they recognize the trade-off: a Siri that forgets preferences after 30 days is also a Siri that lacks the ability to learn from user history the same way that ChatGPT or Claude can.

      Notably, Gurman reports the possibility that the new Siri might be released in beta form, even after a two-year delay. The redesigned assistant was initially slated for 2024, and current iOS 27 test versions within Apple carry a beta label for the new Siri and include an option for users to opt-out. Simultaneously, Apple is creating AI smart glasses for 2027 that will utilize the same Gemini-powered Siri as their main interface, meaning the assistant must function reliably across various form factors by next year.

      Gurman clearly outlines the stakes: Tim Cook aims to avoid any missteps as his final launch as CEO. Apple was afforded “some slack” with the original rollout of Apple Intelligence in 2024, but the competitive and regulatory landscape has evolved. Google’s Gemini has increased its web traffic share from 5.7% to 21.5%. The EU is preparing to require both Apple and Google to allow competitors access to their AI assistants under the Digital Markets Act. Announced at Google I/O this week, Android 17 will include a Gemini Intelligence system and a new Googlebook laptop platform. Apple is entering this terrain with a Siri that is two years late, powered by a rival's model, and potentially still considered unfinished.

      The Genmoji upgrade is the least significant part of the iOS 27 update yet reflects a similar trend. Apple’s AI-generated emoji feature faced criticism at launch due to images not resembling advertisements and power usage that caused devices to overheat and drain batteries. iOS 27 will introduce “Suggested Genmoji,” automatically created from user photos and frequently typed phrases in hopes of boosting adoption of a feature meant to showcase the consumer appeal of Apple