Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · Jun 27
Apple’s Siri AI Improves CarPlay in iOS 27 Beta, but Misses 4-Truck Crash Context
Updated
Updated · Tom's Guide · Jun 27

Apple’s Siri AI Improves CarPlay in iOS 27 Beta, but Misses 4-Truck Crash Context

3 articles · Updated · Tom's Guide · Jun 27

Summary

  • A week of testing on an iPhone 17 Pro found Siri AI in the iOS 27 CarPlay beta far more conversational, with more natural tone and smoother back-and-forth than earlier Siri versions.
  • That upgrade showed limits in real driving use: Siri could suggest 3 local July 4 events, but it would not choose one recommendation and could not be interrupted in CarPlay.
  • Traffic research exposed a bigger gap. Asked why the New Jersey Turnpike was jammed, Siri failed to identify the cause, while the actual problem was a 4-truck crash with 1 fatality.
  • Note-taking was stronger: after logging pros and cons on a 2026 Mazda CX-5, Siri remembered the earlier note, added later comments, and produced a titled bullet list.
  • The test left the reviewer seeing Siri AI as more reliable behind the wheel, while still needing deeper live research and broader third-party app integration such as voice ordering.

Insights

Can Apple's privacy-first AI truly rival Google's data-rich services for live, real-time information on the road?
With Siri integrating rival AIs, is Apple building a master assistant or just a gateway to more powerful competitors?