What was the biggest highlight of Apple's WWDC 2026?

Siri has undergone a significant transformation and has been rebranded as Siri AI, offering enhanced conversational capabilities, better understanding of personal context and screen content, all driven by Google's Gemini model.

Which AI model does Siri AI use?

According to the keynote and media reports, Siri AI is powered by Google's Gemini model, marking a shift away from relying on third-party services like ChatGPT.

Will Siri AI be available in Taiwan?

Yes, it will be available. Although Apple is not launching Siri AI in the EU due to DMA regulations, Taiwan is not part of the EU, so users can access it; however, full functionality requires an iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, or iPhone Air.

What new features does iOS 27 offer?

The latest operating system focuses on efficiency, with smoother animations and faster app launching, as well as deeper integration of Apple Intelligence and an upgraded Image Playground that supports more styles and sizes.

Can older iPhone models use Siri AI?

While some features will be available, the full experience, including expressive voice and advanced dictation, will require newer models like the iPhone 17 Pro.

Apple WWDC Highlights: Siri Gets a Major Overhaul and Renamed to "Siri AI" with Google Gemini, But Will It Work in Taiwan?

The WWDC 2026 conference has just concluded, and Apple unveiled a revamped Siri, rebranded as Siri AI, which surprisingly utilizes Google's Gemini technology. Here's a rundown of the key points and what they mean for Taiwan.

Taiwan time reached the early hours of the morning today, with many Apple fans staying up all night to watch the live broadcast. The WWDC 2026 developer conference, held by Apple at Apple Park in California, finally unveiled the long-awaited main event - a completely revamped Siri. Not only has it become smarter, but its name has also been changed to "Siri AI". However, what's most surprising is that it's powered by Google's Gemini, rather than Apple's own model. This article will summarize the key points of the conference, including whether Taiwan will be able to use the new features.

Event Background: Apple's AI Finally Catches Up

Over the past two years, Apple's Intelligence progress has been criticized by the outside world. Siri has been stuck in an awkward position, only able to perform simple tasks like setting alarms, and the gap between it and ChatGPT, Gemini has been growing. This WWDC, Apple has come to "make up for lost time" - and it's doing so in a very practical way: by collaborating with the strongest player in the field.

Key Points of the Conference

Siri Officially Renamed "Siri AI": More conversational, better understanding of context, and a redesigned interface across platforms.
Powered by Google Gemini: Siri AI is driven by the Gemini model, no longer relying on ChatGPT to handle tasks.
Better Understanding of "You" and "The Screen": Able to understand personal context and the content on the screen, combined with "Visual Intelligence" to recognize objects and provide answers.
iOS 27 Focuses on Efficiency: Smoother animations, faster app opening, and more integrated Apple Intelligence features.
Image Playground Upgrade: Can generate almost any style (including more realistic ones), compatible with multiple platforms and sizes.
Full Functionality Requires New Devices: To use the full range of Siri AI features, including expressive voice and advanced dictation, an iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, or iPhone Air is required.

Market Impact Analysis

For Taiwanese Users (The Most Important Point): Due to the regulatory controversy surrounding the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Apple has announced that Siri AI will not be available in the EU. However, Taiwan is not part of the EU - in other words, Taiwanese users will be able to use Siri AI, which is good news for Asian Apple fans. Note that full functionality is tied to new devices like the iPhone 17 Pro, while older models can only access partial features. To get familiar with various AI models, you can compare ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude.

For Enterprises: With Siri becoming more practical, the AI assistant capabilities of employees' iPhones will be enhanced, but companies still need to pay attention to data processing across services, ensuring privacy and compliance, and establishing clear usage policies.

For Developers: After Apple opens up more Apple Intelligence capabilities, apps can be more deeply integrated with system-level AI; however, this also means that being "called out" in Siri will become a new battlefield for exposure. Further reading: How to Build Your Own AI Agent.

Future Development Trends

This conference actually announced one thing: Even Apple has chosen not to "go it alone" with AI. When the world's major hardware manufacturers are all integrating OpenAI and Google models, the "device-side AI experience" will become more like a competition to see "who integrates the best", rather than "who has the strongest model". For users, the power is slowly shifting back into their own hands - the phone you use can be backed by any of the strongest AI models.

TheAI Academy Summary and Commentary

Honestly, the fact that Apple is willing to hand over Siri to Google's model to save it is more interesting than any single feature. A few years ago, this would have been almost impossible. It represents Apple finally putting aside its pride and practically prioritizing "what's best for users" over "doing everything itself".

For Taiwanese Apple fans, this is a rare piece of good news - the EU may not be able to use it, but we can. However, don't rush to upgrade just yet - the full experience is tied to new devices (iPhone 17 Pro/Air), and those with older models can wait and observe until the official version and Traditional Chinese support are available.

In a nutshell: Apple handing over Siri to Gemini is not admitting defeat, but being practical - and Taiwan is on the winning side this time, able to use the new features.

(This article is based on the WWDC 2026 conference and reports from multiple media outlets, with functionality, device support, and release schedules subject to Apple's official announcements.)