Apple is Testing a Standalone Siri App

Apple is preparing a major update to Siri, with plans to introduce it as a standalone app in iOS 27, according to a report by Bloomberg. The report suggests Siri will no longer sit only in the background waiting for voice prompts. Instead, users may be able to open it like a regular app, interact through a dedicated interface, and access a new “Ask Siri” button.

This points to a shift in how Apple presents its assistant. Siri could move from being passive to something users intentionally open and engage with, similar to how AI chat tools are used today.

Bloomberg reports that Apple is targeting iOS 27 and macOS 27 for this overhaul, with a potential preview on June 8 at WWDC 2026.

A dedicated Siri app with chat history and file input‍

Bloomberg reports that Apple is testing a dedicated Siri app across the iPhone, iPad, and Mac as part of this broader shift. The Siri application, internally codenamed "Campo,"is expected to resemble Apple Messages in structure.

The app is designed to give users a single place to interact with Siri, rather than relying on one-off voice prompts. It also introduces a structure that mirrors how people already use AI chat tools today. Today, Siri does not retain history between sessions, cannot be opened as a standalone app, and treats each interaction in isolation. The Campo app would make Siri an ongoing thread rather than a series of disconnected commands, mirroring what users already experience with ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini on iOS.

According to the report, the main interface will display past conversations, either as a list or in a grid of rounded rectangles with short text previews. Users will be able to pin important chats, revisit older conversations, search across previous interactions, and start new ones using a visible plus button.

Bloomberg adds that the app will support file uploads, including documents and photos, which Siri can then analyze as part of a request.

A new interface built around Apple Intelligence‍

Bloomberg's report says the redesign is part of a broader reset tied to Apple Intelligence. The company is said to be rebuilding Siri’s core system to better handle more advanced AI tasks. Rather than appearing briefly as an overlay, Siri may offer a more persistent interface where users can type, speak, and manage queries in one place. This would change how tasks are completed across apps, from search to messaging and scheduling.

Siri will be able to control features across iPhones and Macs more directly, while also tapping into personal data such as messages, notes, and emails to respond to requests, Bloomberg reported. This means the assistant is expected to move beyond general queries and start handling requests based on a user’s own information.

For example, instead of asking a generic question, users could request something tied to their activity, like pulling details from a past email, referencing a note, or summarizing a conversation thread. Siri would then use that data to generate a response or complete a task.

Bloomberg also says the assistant is being built to carry out actions within apps, not just open them. This ties into Apple’s broader push to make Siri handle multi-step workflows, where one request can trigger a sequence of actions across different apps.

Siri will also expand how it retrieves information. It is expected to access news content and search the open web using Apple-built interfaces and models, rather than relying only on traditional search integrations.

The “Ask Siri” button and direct access‍

One of the more notable changes mentioned in the Bloomberg report is a new “Ask Siri” button. This would give users a clear entry point into the assistant, instead of relying only on voice activation.

Apple is also testing a “Write with Siri” shortcut at the top of the keyboard. This would open writing and editing tools tied to Apple’s AI features.

A simpler Siri and search experience‍

Apple is also testing a redesigned experience that changes how Siri shows up on screen and how it connects with system search. Instead of the current full-screen animation, Siri may appear in a smaller space near the top of the screen and start with a prompt like “Search or Ask.” The idea is to combine search and assistant functions into one place rather than keeping them separate.

The company has been looking at how search fits into Siri’s evolution. Earlier coverage showed that the assistant could take on a larger role in information discovery, not just task execution.

The report also says Apple is exploring a setup where Siri handles both app search and system-level queries in a single view, while still showing suggested actions based on user activity.

Why Apple is rebuilding Siri now‍

Siri's redesign follows years of gradual updates that have not fully closed the gap with newer AI systems. Apple has already been working behind the scenes to improve Siri’s capabilities.

For instance, in November last year, the company reportedly tested internal systems like Apple’s Veritas chatbot for AI-powered Siri testing, which was used to evaluate how a more advanced assistant could respond in real scenarios.

Last month, we covered that the company was exploring partnerships to strengthen its AI capabilities. According to the report, like ChatGPT, Apple plans to allow users to select Google Gemini or Claude AI assistants while using Siri. The iOS 27 update appears to bring these efforts into a single product direction