Apple adds adjustable Siri speech speed and expressiveness controls in iOS 27 beta
Executive summary: Apple released a beta of iOS 27 that includes new settings letting users adjust Siri’s speaking pace and expressiveness. The feature enhances user experience and accessibility, potentially increasing Siri adoption and differentiating Apple’s voice assistant in a crowded market.
Who is involved: Apple Inc., iOS developers, and end‑users seeking customizable voice assistants.
Likely next: The controls are expected to appear in the public iOS 27 release later this year, with possible API exposure for third‑party apps to leverage customizable Siri voices.
Apple’s latest iOS 27 beta introduces user‑controllable sliders for Siri’s speaking rate and vocal expressiveness, allowing listeners to tailor the assistant’s tone to personal preference or accessibility needs. The move refines Siri’s competitiveness against rivals that already offer voice style options, such as Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. While the change is incremental, it signals Apple’s continued investment in making its voice assistant more adaptable and user‑centric.
Timeline
- — You can now customize Siri’s pace and expressivity in the latest iOS 27 beta (TechCrunch)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Feature moves from beta to public iOS 27 release
- Developers may gain access to Siri voice customization APIs
Sectors affected
- Consumer Technology
- Mobile Operating Systems
- Voice Assistant Services
Regulatory implications
- No new antitrust concerns identified
Historical parallels
- iOS 13 introduced Siri voice gender options
- Google Assistant added voice pitch and speed settings in 2022
- Amazon Alexa offered speaking rate adjustments via Alexa Voice Service in 2021