Apple is reportedly preparing to turn the iPhone camera into an AI search engine. In its upcoming iOS 27 operating system, the company plans to introduce a dedicated “Siri Mode” inside the Camera app, sitting right alongside familiar options like Photo, Video and Portrait, a report has said. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, by moving its “Visual Intelligence” features out of hidden menus and directly into the main camera interface, Apple is betting that the future of search is ‘looking’.
How the new Siri Mode may work
Currently, iPhone users access visual search via a specific “Camera Control” button or separate shortcuts. In iOS 27, this experience is getting a complete makeover, Gurman claims. When users swipe to Siri Mode, the traditional white shutter button will transform into the glowing Apple Intelligence logo. Users can point their camera at an object and use built-in AI (or external tools like ChatGPT) to ask questions. The mode will recognize real-world items automatically. Pointing at a concert poster can instantly create a calendar event, while scanning a menu can pull up restaurant reviews, the report said.Beyond just identifying plants or animals, Apple is adding several practical “in-house” capabilities to this mode. For example, users will be able to scan nutrition labels on food packaging to automatically log calories and macros into their health data.Additionally, pointing the camera at a business card or document will allow users to save contact details with a single tap. Finally, the mode will integrate directly with Google to find where to buy items seen through the lens.
Camera hardware and AI
The redesign of the camera software is widely seen as a stepping stone for Apple’s future hardware. The company is reportedly working on a new category of wearable devices, including smart glasses and AirPods with cameras, that will rely on Siri’s ability to “see” and analyze the environment in real-time.
What else to expect in iOS 27
The report said that the Siri Mode is just one piece of a massive AI overhaul expected to be unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) this June. Rumor mill says that Siri is expected to move to a chatbot-like interface with its own dedicated app.A new Photos app is also expected to feature AI tools to “expand” or “reframe” images after they’ve been taken. Apple is said to be prioritizing battery life and software stability to handle the high power demands of these new AI features.
