Siri AI vs. Old Siri on Apple Watch: It Wasn't Even Close

Apple's new Siri AI on the Apple Watch, available with the WatchOS 27 public beta, significantly outperforms the old Siri in real-world tests, providing direct answers instead of web search results. The upgrade addresses long-standing shortcomings of the digital assistant on the wrist, making it more useful for quick queries like ferry schedules, cooking substitutions, and sports information.

"Here's what I found on the web" can finally be put to rest. I put both the old and the new version of Apple's Siri assistant through a few real-world questions on my Apple Watch es to see how they stack up. Spoiler: I'm keeping the new one, thank you very much. With the WatchOS 27 https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/watchos-27-update-siri-ai-older-apple-watches-not-compatible/ public beta rolling out this week, I wanted to take Siri AI for a spin where it matters most: the Apple Watch. Apple's digital assistant has long needed an upgrade, but nowhere have its shortcomings been more obvious than on your wrist. Previously, all the old Siri could do on the Apple Watch was return web results, leaving me to wait for pages to load on a tiny screen that wasn't designed for browsing. To get started, I downloaded the Public Beta of iOS 27 https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/ios-27-public-beta-download/ on my iPhone first it's fairly stable, but I still wouldn't recommend it on a primary device , then installed the WatchOS 27 beta on my Apple Watch Ultra 3 https://www.cnet.com/tech/i-tested-the-apple-watch-ultra-3-and-its-like-a-land-rover-for-your-wrist/ through the Watch app. From there, I made sure Siri AI was activated in my iPhone settings; it defaulted to the new version on the watch as well. I kept my Series 11 https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/apple-watch-series-11-is-still-my-goldilocks-pick-but-not-by-much/ running on the latest version of WatchOS 26 with the old Siri. Keep in mind that Siri AI and WatchOS 27 are early software and far from the final version that will be released this fall. Read more: Win a New Apple Watch in CNET Big Guessing Game Contest https://www.cnet.com/tech/big-guessing-game-apple-edition-round-2/ Test 1: Ferry schedule I started with a question old Siri has failed me on before: "When's the next ferry from Vallejo to San Francisco?" Old Siri: "Here's what I found on the web." This response low-key triggers me. Waiting for a website to load on a tiny screen isn't helpful when I'm literally trying to catch a ferry. Siri AI: "The next ferry to San Francisco leaves Vallejo at 4:10 p.m." Winner: Siri AI Test 2: Kitchen help Next, I tried another situation where I'd rather not have to reach for my phone and risk getting it covered in whatever I'm cooking up. "What ingredients do I need to make buttermilk?" A surprisingly common question now that I'm making frozen yogurt in my Ninja Creami. Old Siri: "Here's what I found on the web." Argh At least it's consistent. Siri AI: "To make a homemade buttermilk substitute, you need milk and an acid. The standard ratio is 1 tablespoon of acid for every cup of milk." The generic "acid" suggestion was a bit vague and slightly concerning , but luckily, I've made it enough times to know it was referring to lemon juice or vinegar and not some dark web-type acid. I could've also asked a follow-up question to clarify which old Siri can't handle either . Winner: Siri AI Test 3: World Cup For my final test, I asked something I've been checking a lot this summer I asked on Monday, July 13 . "When's the next World Cup match, and what stadium is it being played in?" Old Siri: "The next World Cup game is France vs. Spain tomorrow at noon PT." It answered the first part of the question but ignored the stadium entirely. Siri AI: "The next World Cup game is France vs. Spain tomorrow at noon PT at AT&T Stadium in Dallas." It even asked if I'd like to set a reminder. The stadium bit was a key part of the question, since some matches have been played during extreme heat, which has impacted the teams' performances. Winner: Siri AI Bonus round not shown in the video I also asked a question I was genuinely curious about: "Why was Erling Haaland substituted in the last minutes of the England vs. Norway match?" Old Siri: "Here's what I found on the web." Siri AI: He was suffering from severe fatigue and "dead leg injury," leading his coach to pull him during the World Cup quarter-final against England. Winner: Siri AI Final thoughts This is the first time I've intentionally wanted to use Siri on my Apple Watch, and I think it could be a game-changer. The WatchOS 27 Public Beta is available now, with the full release expected this fall alongside Apple's next big product announcements. I'll keep testing Siri AI as the beta evolves, but based on these early results, I won't be going back to the old version anytime soon.