iOS 27 beta adds ChatGPT toggle to new Siri app, but context doesn't transfer between models

Apple's iOS 27 beta includes a redesigned Siri app with a chatbot-style interface that allows users to switch between Siri and ChatGPT during conversations, though with significant limitations.

How the switching mechanism works

The new Siri app features a text input field, support for image and file attachments, and access to previous conversations. Users can switch from Siri to ChatGPT by long-pressing the input field and tapping "Ask...", which brings up a selection menu between the two providers.

Currently, only Siri and ChatGPT are available as options. Apple has not confirmed whether additional chatbot providers will be supported in future releases.

Key limitations

Conversation context does not transfer when switching between models. ChatGPT cannot access messages previously sent to Siri, and Siri cannot see the ChatGPT portion of a conversation. This effectively creates separate, siloed conversations within the same chat interface.

Closing and reopening the app resets the selection back to Siri, even in ongoing conversations where ChatGPT was previously selected. According to the report, it's unclear whether this behavior is a bug in the beta or intended functionality.

ChatGPT appears as an option in the Siri app regardless of whether the ChatGPT extension is enabled in Settings > Siri > ChatGPT. There is currently no way to set ChatGPT as the default model.

What this means

This integration represents Apple's first attempt at offering model choice within its native assistant interface, but the implementation suggests technical or strategic constraints. The lack of context transfer between models limits practical use cases—users can't seamlessly hand off complex tasks between Siri and ChatGPT without losing conversation history.

The forced default to Siri on app launch indicates Apple intends to prioritize its own assistant while offering ChatGPT as an optional alternative. Whether this changes before iOS 27's public release, or if Apple adds support for other providers like Claude or Gemini, remains to be seen. The architecture may also provide insight into how Apple plans to handle multi-model support across its ecosystem.