Apple is letting users customize how Siri speaks in the latest iOS 27 beta, adding controls for pace and expressivity. The update allows people to adjust the virtual assistant's speech speed and emotional tone, making interactions feel less robotic and more aligned with personal preferences.
This change fits into Apple's larger strategy to overhaul Siri using generative AI. The company has worked to transform Siri from a rigid, command-based assistant into something closer to conversational AI. The customization options represent a practical step toward that goal, letting users shape how the assistant communicates rather than accepting a one-size-fits-all voice.
The pace control lets users slow down or speed up Siri's responses. Expressivity adjustments appear to affect vocal inflection and emotional tone, making Siri sound more natural during conversations. Neither setting forces users into extremes. The controls live in iOS accessibility settings, suggesting Apple designed them with broader usability in mind, not just personal preference.
The move addresses a persistent complaint about virtual assistants. Users often find them either too mechanical or too theatrical. Giving people granular control over both dimensions lets them find a middle ground that works for them.
This ties directly to Apple's generative AI push. The company unveiled Apple Intelligence at WWDC and has been integrating AI capabilities across its OS. Siri sits at the center of that vision. A customizable, natural-sounding assistant powered by on-device AI appeals more to users than the previous version, which felt stuck between voice command tool and true assistant.
The beta suggests these controls will ship in the public iOS 27 release, though Apple could refine them before launch. Other companies like Google and Amazon have similar customization options, but making it a native beta feature signals Apple's commitment to improving Siri's conversational abilities.
The expressivity feature in particular hints at deeper work