VisionOS 27 Beta Adds Siri AI That Sees What You’re Looking At
What You Need to Know
- Apple released visionOS 27 second beta with Siri AI as headline feature comparable to ChatGPT.
- Siri on Vision Pro answers questions about what wearer is looking at with spatial awareness.
- Panorama photos convert to spatial environments; new Icelandic Thórsmörk environment added to visionOS 27.
- App windows now curved, Control Center reorganized, notifications expand automatically when wearer looks at them.
Two weeks after shipping the first developer preview, Apple has pushed a second visionOS 27 beta to developers. The update is available through the Settings app under Software Updates, with beta access enabled via the opt-in toggle.
The headline feature is Siri AI, a substantially more capable version of the assistant that Apple is positioning as comparable to ChatGPT and Claude. On Vision Pro specifically, Siri can answer questions about whatever the wearer is looking at, and a new Siri orb can be placed anywhere within the user’s virtual space. That spatial awareness angle is the one feature here that makes genuine use of what the headset can do that a phone cannot.
What the environment and interface updates add
The environmental side of visionOS 27 gets a few additions worth tracking. Panorama photos can be converted into spatial environments in visionOS 27, and Apple is adding a new Icelandic Thórsmörk environment featuring mountains, valleys, glaciers, and the northern lights. Web Environment support lets developers build 360-degree experiences inside Safari, which is a concrete step toward making the browser feel native to the hardware rather than borrowed from another platform.
The interface changes are smaller but practical:
- App windows are now curved for a more immersive workspace feel
- Control Center has been reorganized for easier access to system controls
- A smaller widget size has been added
- Notifications expand automatically when the wearer looks at them
What remains unresolved is how broadly Siri AI will actually reach users. The geographic restrictions affecting Siri AI on iPhone and iPad apply across Apple’s platforms, and Vision Pro’s already narrow install base makes any regional limitation more consequential. Apple has not addressed availability specifics in the context of visionOS.
The beta cycle also raises a question about timing relative to other Siri-adjacent hardware Apple is developing. A second beta two weeks in suggests steady progress, though visionOS updates have historically moved at their own pace, separate from the iPhone release calendar.
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