Although Apple Intelligence and the new, smarter Siri stole the show during WWDC, it remained noticeably quiet around the Apple TV and HomePod. However, that now seems to be changing quickly. Clear indications have been found in the code of the recently released second beta of tvOS 27 that link to the arrival of ‘Siri AI’ in the living room.
This suggests that Apple is busy behind the scenes with the software preparations for an upgrade of its smart home platform. There have been rumors before that Apple wants to launch a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod with Siri at the center later this year.
tvOS 27 beta hint
The discovery was made by Macworldwhich found specific code references in the HomePod installation process. This code points directly to Apple’s next-generation Siri experience, powered by Apple Intelligence. Since the current models of the Apple TV and HomePod do not have sufficient computing power and the required RAM to perform these AI functions locally, there is a good chance that Apple will introduce completely new hardware later this year that is capable of supporting these functions.
New chips and network technology
In addition to the direct references to Siri AI, the tvOS 27 beta contains another interesting clue: support for the so-called N1 network chip. Until now, this advanced network chip could only be found in the very latest iPhone and iPad models. The fact that this chip now appears in the software for the Apple TV and HomePod confirms that we are working hard on new hardware revisions.
What will Siri AI mean for your living room?
The integration of Apple Intelligence should make interaction with your Apple TV and HomePod a lot more natural. Consider:
- Contextual understanding: Siri understands subsequent questions better, without having to repeat the subject each time.
- Cross-app actions: You can ask Siri to look up information in your Messages or Calendar (for example, the start time of a movie) and control your smart home based on that.
- Better HomeKit control: Controlling multiple complex smart home devices simultaneously via voice commands is smoother and more intelligent.
Since the current HomePod mini has been around for quite a few years now and the last Apple TV 4K dates from 2022, the timing seems perfect. Apple is expected to officially present these new AI-enabled living room devices in the fall, shortly after the public release of iOS 27 and tvOS 27.
Siri AI in the EU
It is still unclear when Siri AI will be available on the HomePod and Apple TV in the EU, because Apple is not rolling out the new version of Siri on iPhone and iPad in Europe for the time being due to a conflict with the DMA. While the HomePod and Apple TV aren’t gatekeeper devices, they could potentially run into the same limitations.