Apple plans an AI grammar checker, Siri overhaul, and Shortcuts automation for iOS 27, plus Extensions to ChatGPT and Gemini. WWDC will reveal timing.
Apple is preparing a significant artificial intelligence update for iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, according to a report from Bloomberg. The planned features directly target the consumer AI capabilities that have given Google and Samsung market-talking points in recent quarters. The strategic pivot may be the new Extensions system that lets users tap third-party models like ChatGPT and Gemini for core tasks, moving Apple beyond a purely in-house AI approach.
The report sets up a clear catalyst timeline. Apple will preview these features at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, with a public release in September alongside the new iPhones. That sequence means Google and Samsung have one more cycle to press their AI advantage before Apple closes the gap.
The new iOS 27 includes an AI-powered grammar checker that presents suggested revisions in a menu at the bottom of the screen, allowing users to accept or reject changes individually or as a batch. Siri gets a deeper text-field integration with a “Help Me Write” option and a “Write With Siri” toggle on the keyboard. These features bring the iPhone closer to the writing assistance already available on Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices.
Image Playground will introduce AI-generated wallpapers, matching a feature Android vendors have offered for more than a year.
The Shortcuts app is receiving a fundamental redesign. Instead of building automations step by step or downloading from a gallery, users will describe what they want – sharing calendar availability, summarizing a document – and the system will generate the shortcut. This turns Shortcuts from a power-user tool into a broadly accessible automation layer, potentially expanding the app’s role in daily workflows.
The natural language interface requires on-device language understanding, likely drawing on Apple’s own large language model. If the system works reliably at scale, it could transform Shortcuts from a niche utility to a daily driver for millions of users.
The most consequential read-through from the report is the Extensions framework. The system will let users choose from several third-party AI models – including Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT – to handle text generation, image editing, and Siri queries. Apple plans to host autonomous AI agents in the App Store under its existing privacy and security rules.
This is a departure from Apple’s historical preference for controlling the user experience end to end. The Extensions approach acknowledges that no single model will satisfy every user and that the competitive landscape is shifting too fast to rely solely on in-house development.
For OpenAI and Alphabet, Extensions creates a native distribution channel on over 1 billion active iPhones. If a meaningful share of users enable Gemini or ChatGPT for Siri queries and text generation, the API usage volume increases substantially. The impact on revenue will depend on how Apple structures the integration – whether through free tiers, subscription add-ons, or developer fees.
Apple’s privacy stance has been a differentiator in the smartphone market. Offloading tasks to third-party models could raise data-sharing concerns. The report notes that Apple intends to enforce its existing privacy and security regulations within the Extensions system. The practical execution – what data is sent to which model, how it is stored – will likely become a key scrutiny point at WWDC.
The source explicitly names Samsung and Google as the competitors Apple is targeting. Google’s Android 17 with Gemini Intelligence features, including “Rambler” dictation mode, already has a market narrative lead. Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite, launched earlier this year, has been a feature differentiator in reviews.
Apple’s September release means that by the time iOS 27 ships, both Android 17 and the next Samsung flagships will have had months of user feedback. The pressure is on Apple to deliver a polished experience at launch.
The June WWDC keynote is the first real validation point. Working demos of the grammar checker, Shortcuts generation, and Extensions integration would strengthen the competitive thesis. Limited or delayed demos would signal that Apple is still catching up through 2025.
The iOS 27 plans ripple beyond Apple’s own stock.
AI model providers receive a potential new distribution channel. OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini could see increased consumer adoption if Apple’s UX abstracts away the model choice. Apple’s default search deal benefits Google’s search business through default placement. The Extensions system offers a distribution opportunity that relies on user opt-in – a structurally different adoption driver.
App developers face a changed automation landscape. The enhanced Shortcuts app, combined with AI agents hosted in the App Store, will allow third-party apps to offer complex workflows with minimal coding. Developers who invest early in Shortcuts integrations may capture user habits before competitors adapt.
Smartphone competitors must assume that Apple’s feature parity reduces one of their headline advantages. Both Google and Samsung have marketed AI as a reason to switch ecosystems. If iOS 27 matches or bests those features, the switching cost argument weakens. The response will likely be faster iteration cycles on the Android side, potentially compressing product development timelines.
Key insight: The Extensions system shifts Apple from AI model developer to AI model aggregator. That change could alter competitive dynamics more than any single feature upgrade.
Risk to watch: If Extensions is delayed or restricted due to privacy concerns, Apple’s AI narrative reverts to catch-up mode through the holiday season. The September release gives Apple one shot to close a feature gap that analysts have been tracking for two quarters.
The next three months of beta developer feedback will determine whether iOS 27 solidifies Apple’s AI position or forces another year of catch-up.
Prepared with AlphaScala research tooling and grounded in primary market data: live prices, fundamentals, SEC filings, hedge-fund holdings, and insider activity. Each story is checked against AlphaScala publishing rules before release. Educational coverage, not personalized advice.