New Siri Wants Your Data: How to Lock It Down

Apple has finally shipped its redesigned Siri with iOS 27. You need to join a waitlist for the AI version. Engadget's Mat Smith tested it and says the new Siri is a big leap forward thanks to smarter, more personalized responses.

But those responses come at a cost. Apple partnered with Google to train the large language models behind Siri AI. And to be that personal, Siri needs to index data from your apps.

What the New Siri Does

By default, when you ask Siri a question, it searches through Apple apps like Notes and Messages. If a developer has chosen to support Apple's App Intents framework, Siri can scan their apps too. That data sometimes gets sent to Apple's Private Cloud Compute servers for processing. Apple says it doesn't store that data. But the data still leaves your phone.

How to Limit What It Sees

The fix is in Settings › Apps › [pick an app] › toggle "Show Content in Search" off. Do that for any app you don't want Siri rifling through. If you turn off indexing for Messages, and then ask Siri to summarize a conversation, it will tell you it can't find those messages.

There's an "Apple Intelligence & Siri" section in Apps too. Engadget says those options — like "Suggest App" and "Learn from this App" — have no privacy implications. They just control where iOS suggests apps on your phone. Leave them alone.

If You Want to Go Further

You can also revert to the older Siri. Engadget reports the option is hidden in Screen Time. That lets you use Siri for CarPlay and basic voice commands while keeping the AI version out of your data. Or you can disable Siri entirely under Settings › Apple Intelligence & Siri.

And check whether you accidentally opted into sharing Siri recordings during setup. Apple says it doesn't use your data for training by default, but you might have turned that on.

This new Siri is personal because it's nosy. I'd skip it unless you really need a voice assistant that reads your notes. You'll probably turn that off after the first week.

• AI
• App Intents
• Apple
• iOS 27
• privacy
• Siri