New Siri Lets Claude Run on Your iPhone for First Time

Have you ever wished Siri would finally behave like a real assistant instead of a timer with an attitude? After this year’s WWDC, Apple seems to take that seriously, because the new Siri no longer stands alone. It runs on a custom Google Gemini model, and for the first time you can plug in another AI, such as Anthropic’s Claude.

It sounds minor until you see what it changes. For years the iPhone was a closed box where the assistant worked the way Apple decided, full stop. Now that box opens a little. Through a system Apple calls Extensions, you can connect Siri to the AI service that suits you, instead of accepting whatever ships by default.

What do you actually get on the phone?

First, Siri becomes a real conversation partner rather than a command line. The new model understands context and remembers what you said two questions ago, which had been a weak spot. It also gains access to personal context on the device: emails, photos, files, and so called screen awareness, where Siri can see what is in front of you and act accordingly.

Second, Siri gets its own app. Until now it hid behind a button, but it now has an interface that lets you search or ask, plus a place in the Dynamic Island at the top of the screen. That means you reach it faster and it stays within reach while you work in other apps.

The third change is the one that shifts your habits most. If the default model does not click for you, Extensions lets you choose another. Claude is the first named alternative, and that is the precedent here. Apple has never before let anyone pick the brain behind Siri.

When does this arrive and is it worth the wait?

Developer features have been available since June 9, which means the first tools are already in the hands of people building apps. A public beta is expected next month, so you will be able to try it yourself then, with the usual caution that comes with beta software. Our advice is to wait for the stable release if your phone is your main work tool, because betas tend to drain the battery and freeze at the worst moment.

The backstory is worth a mention too. Apple pays Google a significant annual sum for Gemini, which shows how badly it wants Siri to finally measure up. It is striking that a company that loves to keep everything in house is now buying someone else’s model and even letting users swap it out. That is a quiet but clear turn.

For you as a user, the point is simple. An assistant that understands you better, that sees your context, and that does not have to be a single fixed model. If Siri has been a source of frustration so far, this is the first time there is room to fix that without changing your phone.

So here is the question: if you could choose which AI runs your phone, would you stick with the default or drop in Claude right away?