Key Highlights
- Apple has enabled Siri’s Pace and Expressivity controls in iOS 27 Beta 3.
- Users can now adjust how quickly Siri speaks and how expressive its voice sounds.
- The update is part of Apple’s broader AI-powered Siri overhaul announced at WWDC 2026.
- Beta testers also get minor interface updates, including a redesigned Reminders icon.
Apple is making Siri sound more natural with the latest iOS 27 developer beta. In iOS 27 Beta 3, the company has activated new voice customization controls that let users adjust Siri’s speaking speed and level of expressiveness. The feature was first previewed at WWDC 2026 and marks another step in Apple’s effort to rebuild Siri around generative AI.
What is changing with Siri in iOS 27 Beta 3?
The biggest addition in iOS 27 Beta 3 is the activation of the Pace and Expressivity controls for Siri. Earlier developer beta versions displayed these options as “Coming Soon,” but they are now functional for testers.
Users can choose from different Siri voices with various accents and then fine-tune how the assistant speaks using two dedicated sliders. The Pace control lets users make Siri speak faster or slower, while the Expressivity control adjusts how much emotion and human-like variation the assistant uses during conversations.
As users move the sliders, Siri reads sample phrases such as, “You have one new message,” allowing them to hear the changes instantly before saving their preferences.
Why is Apple focusing on voice customization?
Voice interaction has become one of the biggest areas of competition in artificial intelligence. Companies are no longer competing only on what AI assistants know but also on how naturally they communicate.
Apple’s latest update reflects this shift. By allowing users to personalize Siri’s voice beyond selecting a male or female option, the company aims to make conversations with its AI assistant feel more natural and engaging.
The upgraded Siri is deeply integrated into iOS 27 and supports multiple ways to interact. Users can speak directly, press the side button, swipe down from the Dynamic Island to type requests, or launch the new standalone Siri app.
How does Siri compare with ChatGPT?
Apple’s latest voice controls narrow the gap with competing AI assistants, but ChatGPT still offers more extensive personalization.
OpenAI already allows users to customize not only speaking style but also personality traits such as friendliness, professionalism, enthusiasm, and candor. These settings influence both ChatGPT’s voice and the way it presents information.
Apple’s current implementation focuses primarily on speech delivery rather than conversational style. However, the addition of Pace and Expressivity controls suggests the company is gradually moving toward a more personalized AI experience.
What else is new in iOS 27 Beta 3?
Alongside Siri improvements, Apple has updated the Reminders app icon as part of the latest developer beta.
Some beta testers have also reported that updating to Beta 3 temporarily removed access to the new Siri experience. Others noticed their iPhones re-indexing local data, a background process that helps optimize Apple Intelligence features for search and AI functionality. Apple has not officially commented on these reports.
Why does this update matter?
Generative AI is rapidly changing how users interact with smartphones, and voice is becoming a key part of that experience. Rather than treating Siri as a simple voice command tool, Apple is transforming it into a conversational AI assistant that users can personalize.
Although Siri still trails some rivals in customization options, enabling Pace and Expressivity marks meaningful progress. As Apple continues refining Apple Intelligence ahead of a wider public rollout, features like these could make everyday interactions feel more natural and intuitive. The latest iOS 27 Beta 3 shows that Apple is focusing not only on making Siri smarter but also on making conversations with Siri sound more human.
