source: techcrunch ai: you can now customize siri’s pace and expressivity in the latest ios 27 beta
level: technical
apple released ios 27 beta 3 with new voice controls for siri. users can now change how fast siri speaks and how much emotion it shows. these pace and expressivity sliders were marked as coming soon in earlier betas. the update is part of apple's plan to make siri feel more natural using generative ai. testers can pick from different voices and accents, then use sliders to adjust the sound. siri will say sample phrases so users can hear the changes.
the new siri is built into ios 27 and can be opened by voice, swipe, typing, or a side button tap. there is also a standalone siri app. some beta testers reported losing access to the new siri after updating or seeing their phone re-index data. this indexing is often a first step for optimizing siri's ai search features. other small changes in beta 3 include an updated reminders app icon.
apple's move follows similar features from competitors. openai's chatgpt already lets users adjust warmth, enthusiasm, and style since late 2025. chatgpt offers options like friendly, professional, or quirky tones that affect both speech and how information is presented. apple's controls are more basic for now, focusing only on speed and expressivity. the company aims to make siri more personal as it rebuilds the assistant around generative ai.
why it matters: customizable voice ai helps users feel more comfortable with assistants, which can increase adoption and trust in ai-powered tools.
source: techcrunch ai: you can now customize siri’s pace and expressivity in the latest ios 27 beta