iOS 27.2: Siri AI gets memory, app controls and new languages

Apple has released iOS 27.2 together with macOS Golden Gate 27.2, watchOS, tvOS, visionOS and HomePod updates. As Ars Technica notes, this release is mostly about Siri AI, Apple's newer assistant, though it also brings a few practical extras for everyday iPhone use.

Siri AI now has a memory

According to Apple's release notes, Siri AI can recall past conversations. You can ask it about something it told you before, for example the restaurants it suggested last week. It can also draw on more personal sources when it answers:

• photos attached in Messages;
• the attendees of Calendar events;
• your voicemails;
• better results from Safari history and Reading List.

A new granular text selection option lets you copy only part of a Siri reply instead of the whole answer.

Siri AI requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max or any iPhone 16 model or newer.

A new privacy switch: Excluded Apps

The counterweight to that extra context is Excluded Apps. In one setting you choose which apps Siri, Search and suggestions are allowed to access. If you use Siri AI, this is worth a look straight after updating. Our ChatGPT privacy settings guide covers the same idea for OpenAI's assistant.

Five more languages, still not in the EU

Siri AI now works in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish as well as English. Apple's notes state that it is not available in the EU or mainland China. For background on the China situation, see our earlier report on Apple Intelligence in China and iOS 27.3.

Other changes in iOS 27.2

• Suggestions in Messages turn conversation context into actions, such as adding a dinner invite to Calendar.
• Shared Albums in Photos gain caption and comment editing, duplicate detection and reminders before an album expires.
• SynthID watermark support in Photos and Image Playground helps show whether an image was made or edited with generative tools.
• The Apple TV app adds simple profiles for each person in the household.
• FaceTime can add a third-party sign language interpreter or live captioner to a call.
• The previously promised Apple Pencil support on iPhone Duo has arrived, along with a new Apple Music logo.

iPhone Duo owners should also read our report on Apple's response to the inner display issue.

Should you update?

Apple has not detailed the security fixes in its feature notes and points to its security updates page. 9to5Mac counted at least 329 vulnerabilities addressed across Monday's releases, so installing the update soon is sensible. On iPhone, go to Settings → General → Software Update.