Apple will now train AI on your Siri conversations (if you let it)
A pivot on privacy.
The Apple iOS 27 logo. Cheng Xin via Getty Images.
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- Apple now lets users opt in to using Siri conversations to improve its AI models.
- Shared Siri data can include audio recordings, transcripts, typed requests, and Siri's responses.
- Apple says it does not directly link this data to Apple accounts and takes steps to protect personal data.
- Users can turn off the setting in Settings under Analysis & Improvements.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Apple has changed its privacy language around AI training in iOS 27, removing its previous categorical promise that “your private personal data and interactions are never used to train our foundation models.”
The company has now added an exception, “unless you explicitly choose to help improve them,” turning what sounded like a blanket promise into an opt-in policy and doing a 180 in the process.
When users activate the new Siri AI, iOS 27 asks whether they want to help Apple improve the chatbot and presents an “Agree” option or a less prominent “Not now” button.
The new privacy policy means entire Siri interactions, including audio recordings, transcripts of spoken or typed requests, and Siri’s responses, are to be used, though they are not linked directly to Apple accounts.
Apple says it “takes steps to ensure that personal data is not stored or used by Apple,” though the ambiguity of “taking steps” remains.
The same policy also mentions an improvement process undertaken by “review personnel,” which users may find a bit unclear.
Users can switch the setting back off through Settings > Analysis & Improvements.
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Apple changing tack
The company previously positioned itself as able to improve its AI without harvesting customers' private interactions, despite customers having the choice of opting out.
But the AI race with rivals such as OpenAI and Meta means that, to keep pace, Apple has pivoted to using Siri interactions as a strategy.
Apple has already used privacy-preserving techniques, such as Differential Privacy, to learn from patterns in user data without directly identifying individual prompts, but Siri AI creates a stronger incentive to analyse the actual interaction.
The timing coincides with Apple Watch features that can continuously listen for conversations, generate a transcript of the previous 15 seconds, and produce a daily “Siri Recap” of conversations.
Apple says Siri Recap relies on Private Cloud Compute, which is designed to process sensitive information without retaining it long-term or exposing it to third parties, according to Apple Insider.
