Apple is preparing to bring its upgraded Siri AI to the HomePod, with references to the new assistant now appearing inside HomePod Software 27.
Code discovered in HomePod Software 27 includes references to Apple’s internal framework for the upgraded Siri AI, along with new white, blue, and orange status-light animations tailored for the new assistant.
HomePod Software 27 contains several references to Siri AI, including new white, blue, and orange status-light animations that could accompany the upgraded assistant.
None of those features are available on the current HomePod or HomePod mini, even though HomePod Software 27 has already been released.
Apple hasn’t announced HomePod support for Siri AI or said which models will be compatible. But with a new HomePod mini expected as soon as October, the timing suggests Apple may be preparing the feature for its next generation of home hardware.
The next HomePod mini could bring Siri AI
The upcoming HomePod mini is expected to receive its first major processor upgrade since the original model launched in 2020.
Early indications point toward an S9 chip or better, potentially scaling up to the Apple Watch Series 12’s S11 processor.
While the exterior hardware is expected to carry over, internal enhancements may feature an N1 networking chip, upgraded Ultra Wideband support, and expanded color choices.
The processor upgrade would give Apple a clearer hardware cutoff for Siri AI, similar to the one it already uses on Apple Watch.
Series 9 and newer Apple Watches can access Siri AI when paired with a compatible iPhone running Apple Intelligence.
The Watch doesn’t perform all of the AI processing itself, allowing Apple to bring the new Siri experience to hardware that couldn’t run the underlying models independently.
A new HomePod mini could use a similar arrangement, relying on a nearby compatible iPhone for the heavier processing.
Apple hasn’t confirmed that implementation, however, and the references found in HomePod Software 27 don’t reveal exactly how Siri AI will operate on the speaker.
Apple’s other home devices are getting smarter too
The HomePod mini may not be the only new Apple device built around the upgraded Siri.
A new Apple TV 4K is expected this fall with a faster processor that can support Apple Intelligence features, while Apple is also preparing a dedicated smart home hub centered around Siri AI.
That device is expected to have a roughly 7-inch square display for controlling smart-home accessories, making video calls, playing media, and accessing other Apple services. It could arrive as soon as October.
Apple is also developing an updated full-size HomePod with Siri AI support, although its release timing remains unclear.
For owners of today’s HomePods, the important detail is what Apple hasn’t done. HomePod Software 27 brought the latest software to existing speakers without adding the new Siri.
That doesn’t confirm current models are permanently excluded. But until Apple announces compatibility, there’s no indication that installing HomePod Software 27 will eventually unlock Siri AI on the HomePod or HomePod mini you already own.
