iOS 27 Code Reveals Hidden API to Replace Siri AI with Claude or ChatGPT

Code discovered in iOS 27 and macOS 27 (internally referred to as "Golden Gate") contains private hooks that could let third-party AI models replace Siri AI's server backend, according to developer PDFU (@itspdfu on X). A video demo posted September 13, 2026 shows Anthropic's Claude selected as the active AI assistant through what's labeled the "Model Delegation API" within Apple's App Intents framework.

What the code shows

According to PDFU's findings, the mechanism works by letting apps register as "Siri Extensions," which would allow Claude or other models to appear as an option in Siri's "Ask…" interface. This is not a public API and cannot currently be activated by end users — it exists in the OS code but is disabled in the current build.

Apple has not commented on the discovery, and 9to5Mac notes the company has made no official statement about plans to open Siri AI to third-party backends.

Context: a year of pressure

9to5Mac first polled readers on this idea more than a year ago, before this code surfaced. In that poll, roughly two-thirds of respondents said Apple should let users choose their own AI assistant instead of Siri AI, with another 15% leaning in favor and only 6% strongly opposed.

Apple has historically resisted opening core system experiences to third parties, citing privacy and security concerns. But the company has already made comparable concessions in the European Union under the Digital Markets Act, including allowing alternative default apps and browser engines. 9to5Mac's Ben Lovejoy speculates this Siri AI flexibility could similarly be restricted to EU users first, with US and other markets uncertain.

What this means

This is not a product announcement — it's unreleased, unconfirmed code found by a third-party developer. No pricing, release date, or rollout scope has been disclosed by Apple, and the feature could be scrapped, regionally restricted, or delayed indefinitely before shipping.

If Apple does ship this, it would mark a significant shift in how the company treats Siri, moving from a fully controlled, single-vendor assistant to a pluggable system where users pick their preferred model — mirroring browser or default-app choice screens already mandated in the EU. For Anthropic and OpenAI, appearing as a selectable Siri backend would be a major distribution win, putting Claude or ChatGPT directly into the OS-level assistant slot on hundreds of millions of iPhones without requiring users to open a separate app.

For now, treat this as evidence of internal engineering work, not a confirmed feature. Apple has shipped hidden, disabled code before that never reached a public release. The more interesting signal is regulatory: this looks like groundwork for compliance rather than a voluntary openness initiative, given Apple's pattern of EU-specific accommodations. Whether the option — if real — extends beyond the EU will depend on regulatory and competitive pressure Apple faces elsewhere, not on user demand alone.