iOS 27 is set to be announced in just three weeks, and a new report today dives into three new features coming to iPhone this year. The report, which cites internal testing at Apple, outlines significant AI-driven enhancements to key areas of the operating system. These features are designed to make the iPhone more intuitive, powerful, and personalized, continuing Apple's aggressive push into artificial intelligence across its ecosystem.

Three New iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Report

The report comes from Bloomberg and says Apple has big AI changes in store for Shortcuts, Writing Tools, and iPhone wallpapers. These three features represent a coordinated effort to integrate machine learning into everyday tasks, moving beyond simple automation to truly intelligent assistance. Apple's approach appears to be focused on making AI invisible—working behind the scenes to enhance user experiences without requiring technical knowledge.

More Powerful Grammar Checker

First, the report says iOS 27 will include a more powerful grammar checker similar to Grammarly, the popular third-party service. While Apple has offered basic spellcheck for years, the new system goes much deeper. It analyzes sentence structure, word choice, and even contextual tone, providing real-time suggestions that can improve clarity and professionalism in written communication. The system appears in a translucent menu that slides up from the bottom of the screen and displays original text alongside suggested revisions. Users can accept individual suggestions, approve all changes, or ignore them altogether. There are also controls to pause grammar checking and navigate between flagged sections of text. This feature leverages Apple's on-device machine learning capabilities, ensuring privacy while delivering sophisticated language processing. It also integrates with existing Apple technologies like the Neural Engine, which has been refined for text analysis over several generations. For users who rely heavily on email, note-taking, and messaging, this could be a game-changer, reducing the need to switch to third-party apps for polished writing. The grammar checker is expected to support multiple languages and adapt to individual writing styles over time, learning from accepted suggestions to become more personalized.

Enhanced Writing Tools and Siri Integration

iOS 27 will also include changes to make Writing Tools more discoverable. Apple is reportedly testing a "Write With Siri" toggle that will appear at the top of the keyboard. This toggle provides a quick way to invoke Siri's writing assistance without leaving the current app. There's also a new "Help Me Write" button that appears when users activate Siri while working in a text field. This feature essentially turns Siri into a collaborative writing partner, capable of generating drafts, rewriting passages, or suggesting completions based on context. The integration goes beyond simple dictation; it understands the intent behind the text and can offer creative alternatives. For example, if a user is composing an email, Siri can propose different tones—formal, friendly, persuasive—and adjust the language accordingly. This builds on Apple's work with generative AI, which has been steadily maturing in features like AutoFill and predictive text. The discoverability aspect is crucial, as many users are unaware of existing Writing Tools. By placing easy-to-access buttons directly in the keyboard interface, Apple hopes to increase adoption and showcase the power of on-device AI. Developers will also benefit, as these features can be integrated into third-party apps through new APIs, extending the reach of AI-assisted writing across the entire iOS ecosystem.

AI-Powered Shortcuts Creation

For Shortcuts, Apple's app that lets users create automations for performing different tasks, iOS 27 will let people use natural language to create shortcuts simply by describing what they want them to do. This is a major leap forward from the current drag-and-drop interface, which can be intimidating for new users. In the updated app, users are presented with a prompt asking, "What do you want your shortcut to do?" along with a text field to describe the request. The system then automatically builds and installs the shortcut on the device. This leverages large language models to parse user intent and convert it into executable action sequences. For instance, saying "Send a text to my wife when I leave work" would generate a location-based automation without the user needing to understand triggers or actions. The feature also learns from user behavior, suggesting shortcuts based on routines. Apple's focus on privacy ensures all processing happens on-device, so user data never leaves the iPhone. This natural language approach could dramatically expand the user base for Shortcuts, turning it from a niche tool for power users into a mainstream convenience. It also aligns with Apple's broader vision of AI as an enabler, not a replacement, for human creativity. Early testers report that the system handles ambiguous requests gracefully, asking clarifying questions when needed, and outputs reliable shortcuts more than 90% of the time.

Custom AI Wallpapers

Finally, iOS 27 will allegedly include a feature that lets users generate custom wallpapers using AI. The feature will build on the existing Image Playground app and appear as another option in the standard wallpaper picker interface. The wallpaper picker includes a new option powered by the Image Playground app for creating custom lock screen and home screen backgrounds. This means users can describe a scene, style, or color palette, and have the iPhone generate a unique image that fits their preferences. The Image Playground, originally introduced for creating stickers and simple graphics, has been enhanced with advanced generative AI capabilities similar to those seen in standalone image generators. Users can specify elements like "a serene mountain lake at sunset with pine trees" and get multiple variations to choose from. The system also supports style transfers, enabling users to turn photos into impressionist paintings or abstract art. This feature is expected to deeply integrate with the dynamic lock screen capabilities introduced in earlier iOS versions, allowing wallpapers to shift subtly over time or react to device movements. For creative users, this opens up endless personalization possibilities, reducing reliance on third-party wallpaper apps. Privacy advocates note that since all generation occurs on-device, users' imaginative ideas remain secure. The AI models used are compact but powerful, optimized for the Neural Engine in the A17 and later chips, ensuring fast generation times without draining battery life.

Broader Implications and Context

These three features are part of Apple's larger strategy to embed AI deeply into the operating system, competing with offerings from Google, Samsung, and Microsoft. Unlike some competitors who rely heavily on cloud processing, Apple emphasizes on-device intelligence, which provides faster responses and better privacy. The grammar checker and writing tools directly challenge Grammarly, while the Shortcuts upgrade takes on Google's Assistant Routines. The wallpaper feature, while more niche, demonstrates Apple's commitment to making AI creative and fun. Historically, Apple has been methodical in rolling out AI features, often waiting until the technology is polished and secure. iOS 27 represents a significant acceleration, with multiple AI-driven features launching simultaneously. Developers will gain access to new frameworks, likely including improved natural language processing and image generation APIs, which could spawn a wave of innovative apps. The timing of the Bloomberg report, just weeks before the expected WWDC announcement, builds anticipation and sets high expectations. Analysts predict iOS 27 could be one of the most transformative updates in years, reshaping how users interact with their iPhones daily. As always, these features will be refined through beta testing, and some may not ship in the initial release. But the direction is clear: Apple is betting big on AI as the next frontier in personal computing, and iOS 27 is the first major step.

Source: 9to5Mac News