Apple is preparing to bring AI front and centre in the iPhone camera, with a new ‘Siri mode’ expected to debut in iOS 27.

According to reports, the company plans to integrate its existing Visual Intelligence feature directly into the native Camera app, where it will sit alongside Photo, Video and Portrait modes.

The shift is designed to make AI-powered image recognition more visible and easier to access, rather than being tied to the lesser-used Camera Control button introduced with the iPhone 16.

The new Siri-powered mode will allow users to point their camera at objects, text or scenes and query them in real time. Apple is expected to support external AI services such as ChatGPT, while also offering options like reverse image search to surface additional context.

The feature builds on capabilities already available in Visual Intelligence – including identifying plants and animals, extracting event details from posters, and pulling up business information – but aims to deliver a faster, more seamless experience directly within the camera interface.

New practical tools are also reportedly in development. These include scanning nutrition labels to log dietary data and capturing contact details from business cards or signage, automatically saving them to the user’s contacts.

The camera overhaul forms part of Apple’s wider AI strategy for iOS 27, which is expected to be unveiled at WWDC in June ahead of a public release later this year.

It follows reports, covered by ChannelNews yesterday, that Apple is also upgrading its Photos app with generative AI editing tools such as image expansion, enhancement and reframing, though questions remain around reliability.