# AirPods Have the Most to Gain From a Smarter Siri

Source: https://idevice.com/airpods-smarter-siri-most-to-gain-molkogwk
Published: 2026-04-30

> Apple confirmed in January 2026 that Siri's next overhaul will run on a custom set of Google Gemini-based foundation models, with full conversational back-and-forth, multi-step actions, and personal context across your apps. The new Siri is expected at WWDC on June 8 and shipping in iOS 27 this fall, which would turn AirPods Pro 3 from passive earbuds into the primary interface for everything an iPhone does.

The [AirPods Pro 3](https://idevice.com/earbuds/apple-airpods-pro/roadmap/airpods-pro-3) are good earbuds with a broken voice assistant. The H3 chip is fast. [Noise cancellation is twice as effective as the Pro 2](https://apple.gadgethacks.com/news/airpods-pro-3-heart-rate-tracking-changes-everything/). Heart rate sensing works. Siri is listening. Ask it something real and you may end up pulling out your phone or talking to Alexa instead.

[iOS 27 is built to fix that](https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/01/ios-27s-new-siri-is-coming-and-sounds-very-much-worth-the-wait/). The Siri overhaul coming this fall moves to a custom set of [Google Gemini-based foundation models](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/22/google-gemini-powered-siri-2026/), adds back-and-forth conversation, real world knowledge, multi-step task handling, personal context across your apps, and third-party assistant extensions for things like Claude. [Apple confirmed the Google deal in January 2026](https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/01/12/google-gemini-tech-will-be-used-in-the-all-new-siri-after-major-apple-ai-deal) and is expected to unveil the new Siri at WWDC on June 8.

The version Apple has been promising for two years is the one that should actually ship in iOS 27 this fall.

People reach for their phone today because Siri cannot be trusted to finish anything that takes more than one step. A capable Siri running through AirPods Pro 3 means the phone can stay in your pocket for the things you actually want to do with it: scheduling, messaging, looking something up, controlling an app. The earbuds become the primary interface. That is the goal.

Apple has said versions of this before. [The original Apple Intelligence Siri was promised for spring 2025 and delayed into 2026](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/22/google-gemini-powered-siri-2026/) after Apple ran into accuracy problems. Anyone waiting for the Siri unlock has been waiting through at least two announcement cycles that did not deliver.

If iOS 27 finally ships the version Apple has been describing, the AirPods already in your ears get materially more useful without any hardware change. The upgrade has been waiting in software the whole time.

## Sources

- [iOS 27 could make your AirPods a lot more powerful, here’s why](https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/28/ios-27-could-make-your-airpods-a-lot-more-powerful-heres-why/) (9to5Mac)
- [9to5Mac](https://9to5mac.com/2026/04/01/ios-27s-new-siri-is-coming-and-sounds-very-much-worth-the-wait/) (9to5Mac)
- [MacRumors](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/04/22/google-gemini-powered-siri-2026/) (MacRumors)
- [AppleInsider](https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/01/12/google-gemini-tech-will-be-used-in-the-all-new-siri-after-major-apple-ai-deal) (AppleInsider)