iOS 27 Leaks: A Year of Refinements as Apple Prepares Its Big AI Comeback

While the new 'Liquid Glass' aesthetic of iOS 26 is still fresh, the year-long cycle of leaks for iOS 27 has already begun. In a recent report, Bloomberg provided the first overview of what to expect from Apple's next major software update, and it can be summed up in one phrase: optimization first, AI later.

iOS 27

A Stability-Focused iOS 27

Following Apple's typical development cycle, a major redesign is often followed by a version focused on refinement and stability. iOS 27 is expected to be no different. While the 'Liquid Glass' style of iOS 26 was a matter of taste, it was widely criticized for causing overheating, poor battery life, bugs, and frequent crashes, creating a stark contrast with the highly-praised iPhone 17 hardware. Many felt that the best iPhone in years was paired with one of the worst versions of iOS.

This situation is reminiscent of iOS 11, which introduced significant changes for the all-screen iPhone but delivered a poor user experience, especially on older devices. In response, Apple released iOS 12 the following year with very few new features, focusing instead on underlying optimizations that successfully restored iOS's reputation for stability. Similarly, iOS 27 is expected to become an excellent long-term support version for devices struggling with the demanding new UI of iOS 26, while Apple continues to fine-tune the Liquid Glass visual effects and add more customization options.

Apple's engineering teams are reportedly combing through the operating systems to streamline features and fix bugs, aiming for significant performance gains. This foundation will be crucial for new hardware expected next year, including the foldable iPhone and a HomePod with a screen, which will likely run on a version of iOS 27.

2026, Apple's AI Revival

After a relatively quiet year on the AI front, Apple is planning a major comeback. The long-delayed AI-powered Siri is now scheduled for a spring release with iOS 26.4. To catch up, Apple is reportedly finalizing a multi-year deal with Google, paying around $1 billion annually to use the Gemini model for Siri's core AI capabilities. Crucially, the agreement stipulates that Gemini will run on Apple's 'Private Cloud Compute' servers, ensuring user data remains isolated from Google's systems.

Furthermore, Apple has formed a new team called 'Answers, Knowledge, and Information' (AKI) to build an 'answer engine' similar to Perplexity. This feature, which will be integrated into Siri, focuses on intelligently aggregating existing web information, a lower-risk approach that helps avoid the 'hallucination' problems common in generative AI chatbots. Apple is also developing an AI health agent for a new 'Health+' service in iOS 27, which will provide personalized analysis and advice based on user health data, leveraging the company's decade-plus of work in the health sector.

Apple understands that falling behind in the AI wave could render the iPhone obsolete within a decade. The competition is heating up, with rivals like OpenAI hiring numerous ex-Apple employees to develop new AI hardware in collaboration with former chief designer Jony Ive. While Apple has lagged, its position as one of the world's most important device companies gives it a significant advantage. After a year of regrouping, the pressure is on for Apple to deliver, as the time to prove its AI prowess is running out.

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