Apple rolls out iOS 27.2 with new Siri AI languages and security fixes

The iOS 27.2 update significantly enhances Siri AI, expanding its language capabilities to include French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish in beta. A core improvement is Siri's ability to remember details from past conversations and user preferences. This development reflects a broader industry trend, with other AI model makers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google also prioritizing improved recall functions for their assistants. Siri can now access information from various on-device sources, such as photos in Messages, calendar event attendees, and Safari history, though users can define which apps to exclude from Siri AI’s memory.

Beyond AI, the update adds Apple Pencil support for the foldable iPhone Duo in apps such as Notes and Preview. This comes as early buyers of the iPhone Duo have reportedly faced display-related problems. FaceTime also gains new features, including Dual Capture for simultaneous front and rear camera streaming during group calls, and the option to add a third-party sign language interpreter or live captioner. Additionally, users will receive suggestions to convert messages into Reminders or Calendar events, and the Podcast app has been refreshed to better display new and currently playing episodes.

A critical aspect of iOS 27.2 is its security enhancements, with Apple reporting over 160 fixes. Many of these bug fixes have been backported to iOS 26, which Apple states is still used by about 80% of iPhone owners. A specific bug fix was also backported to iOS 18, addressing a vulnerability that Apple says "may have been exploited 'in an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals on versions of iOS before iOS 27.'" While Apple’s statement uses standard language for government spyware or law enforcement exploits, the company did not provide specific details about the attack or who was targeted. The backporting of these fixes to older, widely used iOS versions suggests Apple's recognition of the need to address severe security risks across a broader user base.