Apple releases iOS 27 public beta with AI-packed Siri, new photo tools and a $250m settlement

Apple has officially released iOS 27 public beta, its most AI-heavy iPhone operating system to date, with major upgrades to Siri, photo editing, Wallet and Weather. The company also agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit over misleading customers about Apple Intelligence features.

Siri gets smarter with ChatGPT integration

Siri has received one of its most substantial upgrades since the assistant was first introduced. The voice assistant can now read and understand content on a user's screen, summarise web pages, compose message replies, search for products and carry out actions across several apps without switching between them manually.

Apple has also built in a ChatGPT integration, allowing users to hand off complex tasks such as research, writing and coding directly to the chatbot from within Siri. A dedicated Siri app is available for extended conversations.

Photos, Wallet, Weather and more

The Photos app now includes three AI-powered tools: Reframe, which recreates an image from a different angle; Extend, which expands the background of a photo; and an improved Cleanup feature for removing unwanted objects.

Apple also introduced AI-generated wallpapers that can be expanded, adjustable transparency for app icons, larger home screen widgets and a redesigned lock screen with more control over wallpaper placement and widget layout. A shake gesture can undo any home screen changes made by accident.

Users can now describe what they want an automation to do in plain language, and the system will build the Shortcut for them without manual configuration. Apple Wallet now allows users to scan physical membership cards, loyalty cards and event tickets to create digital passes stored on the iPhone. The Weather app displays more granular conditions, covering wind speed, precipitation levels and cloud cover in greater detail.

Other additions in iOS 27 include live subtitles for videos, an equaliser for AirPods, photo ratings inside the Photos app, identity document organisation and a redesigned Camera interface with a dedicated Siri mode.

$250m settlement over Apple Intelligence claims

In a related development, Apple has agreed to pay $250 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the company of misleading customers about the availability of its artificial intelligence features branded as Apple Intelligence. The proposed settlement applies to US customers who purchased all models of the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 15 Pro between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.

Eligible claimants may receive $25 per device, though the amount could rise to as much as $95 depending on the number of claims filed and other factors, according to the legal team behind the case.

The iOS 27 public beta is a pre-release version for testing and feedback before the official launch expected around September. For Nigerian Apple users, the new features will arrive with the official release, but the settlement payout is limited to US customers.