Apple is making its revamped Siri AI easier to access: eligible users who opt in can usually download the feature automatically, with waitlists reserved for periods of high demand. The change removes queuing as the default, but does not mean the assistant is broadly available. The feature remains in testing and requires a compatible device.
Waitlists now depend on demand
Apple updated its “How to get Siri AI” guidance on Monday. It says the feature will download automatically for eligible users who choose to join. Previously, users had to enter a queue, with some reporting waits ranging from a few hours to a day or two. Apple did not specify how many users would trigger a waitlist or set a threshold for waiting times.
The revised process may reduce the steps needed to access the feature, but immediate availability still depends on Apple’s rollout and whether a user’s device meets the requirements. Wait times may vary with demand.
Siri AI can draw on information across apps
Apple unveiled the upgrade at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The new Siri can use personal information from apps including iMessage, Calendar, Mail and Photos to handle requests such as finding a flight number or identifying an item shown on a device’s screen. Apple also plans a standalone app.
CEO John Ternus said on the company’s earnings call Monday that Siri AI currently works mainly in response to user requests. He described it as built on a modern, orchestration-based architecture designed to leave room for expanded capabilities. The feature is still in testing; his comments do not indicate that future capabilities have already launched.
Compatible hardware remains a requirement
Siri AI requires a device that supports Apple Intelligence. For iPhone users, Apple lists the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models as the starting point. Users with unsupported devices will not be able to access the feature, regardless of changes to the waitlist process.
The update changes how eligible users may get access, but does not lower the hardware requirement or mark a full release. Apple may still bring back queues when demand is high, while the new Siri AI remains a test feature.