EFF warns iOS 27’s Siri AI sends data off-device with no clear indicator

Apple ↘ 0.26% released iOS 27, watchOS 27, and the rest of its annual software lineup on September 14, bringing a rebuilt Siri assistant, more than 20 new Apple Intelligence features, and a handful of under-the-radar changes — alongside at least one removal that has frustrated Apple Watch owners.9to5mac+1

Siri AI and Apple Intelligence Take Center Stage

The headlining addition is Siri AI, a ground-up rebuild of Apple's voice assistant that now behaves more like a conversational chatbot. Available on iPhone 15 Pro and newer, the overhauled assistant offers broad world knowledge, personal context drawn from Messages, Mail, Calendar, and other apps, and on-screen awareness that lets users ask questions about whatever is on their display. The Electronic Frontier Foundation noted that the deeper access comes with privacy trade-offs, warning that there is "no immediate visual indication" when data leaves the device for Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers.eff+1

Beyond Siri, iOS 27 threads Apple Intelligence through system apps: Photos gains spatial reframing and an "Extend" tool that uses AI to fill out a cropped image for Lock Screen wallpapers, Safari adds a "Notify Me" feature for tracking product changes, and Shortcuts can now be described in plain language. Five new Lock Screen tools — including a compact clock mode and AI-generated wallpapers via Image Playground — round out the customization options. Apple also quietly expanded the shorter "Siri" wake word to French and German speakers, though The Mac Observer noted this applies only to the classic assistant, not Siri AI, which remains English-only.9to5mac+2

watchOS 27 Drops the App Switcher

On Apple Watch, watchOS 27 removes the double-press digital crown gesture that previously let users jump back to their last-used app. As Tom's Guide reported, both a single and double press of the crown now open a new "Dynamic App Grid," a change the outlet called "redundant" and "oddly un-Apple-like". Apple plans to repurpose the double-press for a forthcoming "Live Rewind" feature on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, which will replay and transcribe the last 15 seconds of ambient audio. The Walkie-Talkie app was also removed without explanation.tomsguide

Connectivity Assist and a New Shipping Requirement

A quieter but practical addition is Connectivity Assist, an evolution of the decade-old Wi-Fi Assist. Rather than simply switching to cellular when Wi-Fi falters, iOS 27 can now use both connections simultaneously, according to Pocket-lint, which reported 174 MB of cellular usage on day one in a hotel with poor Wi-Fi. Apple disables the feature during Low Power Mode and international roaming to limit data costs.pocket-lint

Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro Max introduces a "Prepare to Ship" setting required before mailing the device. According to Apple's own support page, the phone's battery exceeds 20 watt-hours — a threshold that triggers stricter shipping regulations — so the feature discharges it and caps charging at 80 percent for 14 days.apple+1