Apple announces watchOS 27, now with Siri AI

Apple just announced watchOS 27, the next version of the Apple Watch operating system, bringing support for Siri AI, a redesigned “dynamic” app grid, and improvements to health and fitness tracking. the watchOS 27 update It will be available “this fall,” according to Apple, though support is noticeably limited — the new operating system will only be available for Apple Watch Series 10 models or later, including Ultra 2, Ultra 3and C3.

The biggest update coming to supported Apple Watch models is Siri AI — The next generation of Apple’s virtual assistant, powered by Apple Intelligence. It comes with a new, dedicated Siri app that “brings all your conversations into one place,” according to Apple, allowing users to start a conversation with a chatbot directly on their Apple Watch, or ask questions on their iPhone and then pick up where they left off on their wrist. Siri can also perform actions in apps, including playing songs, sending emails, or setting new Activity Ring goals without the user having to search for them, Apple says.

Siri AI won’t be available until the beta launches later this year. Using it with watchOS 27 will require Watch users to pair it with an Apple Intelligence-enabled device, though Apple says Siri AI won’t be coming to iOS and iPadOS devices. In the European Union so far.

There’s also a new dynamic app grid that automatically highlights apps suggested by Siri. The Siri Apple watch app will be displayed in the center of this new grid, and will be surrounded by the most popular and recently used apps, making them easy to access without digging through the app list.

New insights come to Workout buddy – The AI-powered Personal Trainer feature introduced in watchOS 26 – provides better insight into your pace, distance, and duration of your workout, and improves running tracking for both outdoor running and walking sessions. Menstrual health support has also been expanded to notify you when recorded cycle patterns indicate perimenopause. After initially launching in English, Workout Buddy is now also available in Spanish.

Apple has made some general improvements to watchOS 27 as well, including suggestions for more widgets in the Smart Stack, faster music playback, battery improvements, a more streamlined experience in the Find My app for locating your devices, and an improved Liquid Glass experience that should make text easier to read. There’s also a new gesture that lets you select a widget in the Smart Stack by tapping your index finger and thumb together.

This is a follow-up to last year watchOS 26 updateas Apple changed the numbering system for its various operating systems to match next year (switching from the watchOS 11 naming convention it used in 2024). Last year’s update, which It was launched in SeptemberAlso presented Apple’s liquid glass design language to the Apple Watch, along with other features, including wrist gesture control to dismiss notifications, Apple intelligenceSupported fitness features, Apple Notes app support.