You can now customize Siri’s pace and expressivity in the latest iOS

Apple has rolled out a significant update in the latest iOS 27 developer beta, empowering users to fine-tune the speed and emotional tone of their Siri interactions. The third beta release, available today, July 6, 2026, activates previously "Coming soon" controls for "Pace" and "Expressivity," marking a crucial step in Apple's ongoing effort to rebuild its AI assistant with generative AI at its core. This enhancement aims to deliver a more natural and personalized user experience.

A More Personal and Natural Siri

This customization capability is integral to Apple's broader strategy to make Siri feel more human-like and personally tailored to each user. By allowing individuals to adjust how Siri sounds, Apple is fostering a deeper connection between users and its evolving AI technology, mirroring a trend seen across the voice AI landscape. The company views personalized voice interactions as a key component in integrating generative AI seamlessly into daily use.

Deep Dive into Customization Features

Beta testers can now access dedicated sliders within Siri's settings to modify its speaking pace, making it slower or faster as preferred. Alongside this, a separate "Expressivity" slider enables adjustments to the level of human-like emotion Siri conveys in its responses. To assist users in finding their ideal voice, Siri will audibly demonstrate common phrases like "You have one new message" as adjustments are made.

Beyond these new sliders, the system continues to offer a selection of voices with various accents, moving beyond the traditional male or female assistant choice. The AI-powered version of Siri itself is designed for deep integration throughout iOS 27. Users will have multiple intuitive ways to engage with the assistant, including speaking commands, swiping down from the Dynamic Island, pressing the side button on their iPhone, or even utilizing a newly introduced stand-alone Siri application. This multi-modal access ensures Siri is readily available in various interaction scenarios.

Siri's Generative AI Evolution

These voice controls were first unveiled at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 26) in June, where the company showcased its ambitious overhaul of Siri, driven by generative AI. The transformation is poised to redefine how iPhone owners interact with their devices, moving towards a more intelligent, conversational, and adaptable digital assistant. The current beta release allows developers and early adopters to experience a tangible aspect of this future vision.

Competitor Landscape and Future Outlook

While Apple's latest advancements are notable, competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT have already ventured further into voice customization. Since December 2025, ChatGPT users have been able to adjust parameters such as "warmth" and "enthusiasm," alongside defining a "base style" (e.g., friendly, professional, quirky) that influences both how the AI speaks and how it structures information. Apple's current update focuses primarily on pace and emotional expressivity, indicating a gradual rollout compared to some of its rivals.

In addition to the Siri updates, iOS 27 beta 3 also includes minor adjustments, such as an updated Reminders app icon. However, some users updating to the new beta have reported experiencing temporary issues, including losing access to the new Siri features or their devices re-indexing data, a process typically associated with optimizing Siri AI for search functionalities. These are common occurrences in beta cycles as Apple refines the software ahead of a public release. The ongoing development underscores the complexity of integrating advanced generative AI capabilities into a user-friendly operating system.

FAQ

Q: What specific voice customizations are available for Siri in iOS 27 beta 3?

A: Users can now adjust Siri's speaking "Pace" (how quickly it talks) and "Expressivity" (how much human-like emotion its voice conveys) using dedicated sliders. The update also retains the ability to choose from a range of voices with different accents.

Q: Why is Apple adding these voice customization options to Siri?

A: This is part of Apple's broader initiative to make Siri feel more natural, personal, and connected to users. By rebuilding Siri around generative AI, customization helps bridge the gap between human interaction and advanced AI technology.

Q: How does Siri's voice customization compare to other AI assistants like ChatGPT?

A: While Apple now offers pace and expressivity controls, ChatGPT introduced more extensive options in December 2025, allowing users to adjust warmth, enthusiasm, and overall style/tone (friendly, professional, quirky), which impacts both speech and information delivery.