Apple has revealed the new accessibility features coming to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS , but behind the announcements lies something much bigger than just accessibility improvements. The company appears to be preparing the ground for the next generation of Siri , with AI- powered features that promise to transform the digital assistant into a true “AI agent” capable of understanding the device’s environment and performing complex actions.
The most notable feature is the major upgrade to Voice Control, which now gains natural language capabilities through Apple Intelligence. While Apple is pitching the feature as an accessibility tool for people with mobility issues, many analysts believe this is essentially the first public “taste” of Siri’s new agency capabilities that are expected to be fully revealed at WWDC.
Voice Control gets really smart
Until now, Voice Control required fairly strict and specific voice commands, with users often having to memorize button names, numbers, or precise labels for on-screen elements. In iOS 27, that changes radically.
See also: iOS 27: Learn everything about the major upgrade to Genmoji
Apple is incorporating natural language understanding capabilities, allowing users to describe what they see on the screen in a human-like way. For example, a user will be able to say “tap the restaurant guide” or “open the purple folder” and the system will understand which item they are referring to.
This feature is particularly important for people with mobility disabilities, as it drastically reduces the complexity of operating a device. However, behind this feature lies a much more advanced technology of screen content analysis and contextual understanding.
Essentially, Apple is creating a system that can "see" the screen, understand what is displayed, and perform actions on that environment.
The new Siri gains agency capabilities
This information is directly related to what Apple had presented in 2024 regarding the new Siri. At that time, the company had promised that the digital assistant would be able to perform hundreds of actions within and between applications, while becoming fully aware of the content on the screen.
See also: iOS 27: Create custom wallpapers and Shortcuts with AI
These features were ultimately delayed, raising questions about Apple Intelligence. However, the new version of Voice Control shows that the core technologies behind the "new Siri" are now almost ready.
Analysts like Mark Gurman believe that Apple is using accessibility features as a way to gradually introduce AI capabilities into its ecosystem before the big official presentation.
The concept of “agentic” is considered the next big step in the evolution of AI assistants. It is not just about answering questions, but the ability of an AI to autonomously take actions on behalf of the user.
The iPhone turns into a real personal assistant
If the features Apple is testing are fully implemented, the iPhone will fundamentally change the way it works. Siri will no longer be limited to simple voice commands or information searches, but will be able to dynamically interact with apps, documents, photos, and screen content.
A user could theoretically ask Siri to fill out a form, organize files, make reservations, move data between apps, or perform complex workflows using natural language alone.
See also: iOS 27: Siri will offer automatic deletion of conversations
This brings Siri closer to the logic of AI agents already being developed by companies like OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic. The difference is that Apple seems to be placing a particular emphasis on privacy and local data processing through on-device AI.
Apple is dynamically entering the generative AI battle
The new strategy shows that Apple doesn't intend to be left behind in the era of generative AI. Although the company has been slow to catch up with competitors like Microsoft and Google, iOS 27 appears to be the first truly aggressive AI upgrade to its ecosystem.
Integrating agentic features into iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro could drastically change the way users interact with their devices every day. And while Apple is presenting these features through the lens of accessibility, it's becoming increasingly clear that this is the first step toward a much smarter, more autonomous, and more interactive Siri.
