Apple Opens Siri to Claude and Gemini: iOS 27 Extensions Reshape AI Assistants

Siri Gets a New Brain, and You Get to Choose Whose

On March 29, 2026, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that Apple plans to open Siri to third-party AI assistants through a new Extensions system in iOS 27. The feature will allow any AI chatbot service installed from the App Store to integrate directly with Siri, ending the exclusive arrangement with OpenAI's ChatGPT that has been in place since iOS 18.2.

The announcement represents the most significant change to Siri's architecture since its launch in 2011. Apple is transforming Siri from a closed, single-provider assistant into an open platform where users can choose which AI service processes their requests. The App Store will include a dedicated "Extensions" section functioning as a marketplace for third-party AI integrations.

How Extensions Work

According to fine print discovered in the Settings app of an internal pre-release build of iOS 27, "Extensions allow agents from installed apps to work with Siri, the Siri app and other features on your devices." The system operates at three levels.

First, the new standalone Siri app. iOS 27 will include a dedicated application for interacting with Siri through both text and voice, similar to the standalone apps offered by ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini. The app will store conversation history, allowing users to revisit previous Siri interactions.

Second, systemwide integration points. Apple is adding an "Ask Siri" button across its own applications and a "Write with Siri" button above the keyboard. These entry points will route requests through whichever AI service the user has configured as their default Extension.

Third, the Extensions marketplace. The App Store's new Extensions section will list AI services that have integrated with Apple's Extension APIs. Any developer that meets Apple's requirements can build an Extension, creating an open market rather than a curated handful of partners.

Confirmed AI Services

Based on Gurman's reporting and subsequent analysis, the following AI services are expected to be available as Extensions at or near launch.

The inclusion of Claude and Gemini is particularly significant. Anthropic's Claude has emerged as the preferred AI assistant for coding and technical work, while Google's Gemini offers deep integration with the Google ecosystem. Having both available through Siri gives iPhone users access to the full spectrum of frontier AI capabilities without leaving the native Apple experience.

The Siri Overhaul

Extensions are part of a broader Siri redesign in iOS 27. The assistant is receiving a new interface that may incorporate the Dynamic Island, a dedicated standalone app, and what Apple describes internally as a transformation into an "AI agent" capable of conversational interaction through both text and voice.

The redesign also reflects Apple's ongoing efforts to address criticism of Siri's capabilities relative to competitors. While ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini have rapidly advanced their conversational AI features, Siri has been perceived as lagging behind. The Gemini-powered Siri upgrade, initially promised for iOS 26.4, was delayed to iOS 26.5 and then further to iOS 27, reflecting the engineering challenges of integrating frontier AI into Apple's privacy-focused architecture.

Apple's partnership with Google gives it access to Gemini for on-device model distillation, creating smaller, task-specific models that run locally through Apple's Private Cloud Compute infrastructure. This approach allows Siri to leverage frontier AI capabilities while maintaining Apple's commitment to user privacy.

Why This Matters for the AI Industry

The Extensions system has implications that extend well beyond Siri.

First, distribution. Apple has over 2.2 billion active devices globally. Giving AI services direct access to this install base through Siri Extensions creates the largest AI distribution channel in history. For companies like Anthropic and Google, being a default Extension option on iOS means reaching hundreds of millions of potential users who might never download a standalone AI app.

Second, commoditization pressure. By making AI services interchangeable through a standardized Extension interface, Apple is effectively commoditizing the AI assistant layer. Users can switch between ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini with a single settings change. This reduces switching costs to near zero and forces AI providers to compete on quality, speed, and unique capabilities rather than distribution advantages.

Third, revenue implications. Apple's App Store commission structure could apply to AI subscriptions purchased through Extensions, potentially giving Apple a 15-30% cut of AI service revenue generated through Siri. For AI companies already operating at a loss, an additional Apple tax on their most valuable distribution channel could significantly impact unit economics.

Fourth, privacy differentiation. Apple's Private Cloud Compute architecture means that Extension requests can be processed with stronger privacy guarantees than using the AI provider's own app directly. This creates a scenario where using Claude through Siri Extensions might actually be more private than using the Claude app directly, giving Apple a unique selling point.

Timeline

The new Siri with Extensions is slated to be unveiled on June 8, 2026, at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference as part of iOS 27. A developer beta will follow immediately, with public availability expected in September 2026 alongside new iPhone hardware.

The iOS 26.5 developer beta, expected in the coming weeks, may include some preliminary Gemini-powered Siri improvements, but the full Extensions system is reserved for iOS 27.

Conclusion

Apple's decision to open Siri to third-party AI services is a strategic masterstroke that positions the company at the center of the AI assistant ecosystem without needing to build the best AI model itself. By creating Extensions, Apple transforms Siri from a struggling single-provider assistant into a meta-platform that hosts the world's most capable AI services. For users, this means unprecedented choice. For AI providers, it means access to Apple's massive install base but on Apple's terms. The biggest winner may be the consumer who can now ask Claude for a code review, Gemini for a travel recommendation, and ChatGPT for creative writing, all through a single interface on their iPhone.