Siri AI HomePod support appears to be on the way, but the first version may be reserved for new speakers rather than the HomePods already sitting on shelves. Code found in HomePod Software 27, also referred to as audioOS 27, includes “Linwood”, the system behind Apple’s more capable Siri, according to MacRumors.
Apple has not announced Siri AI for HomePod, and the code does not confirm a launch date. The report comes from code sleuth pdfu, whose findings were also covered by 9to5Mac. Existing HomePods still do not offer the newer assistant, despite the relevant software version being available, which points towards a hardware requirement rather than a quiet software switch.
Siri AI HomePod support may require new hardware
The leaked software references new status lights using white, blue and orange elements associated with Siri AI, along with a new sound. That suggests a visible change to the interaction, not simply a background update to the existing voice assistant.
An updated HomePod mini is expected to use an S9 chip or newer, with the S11 also reportedly under consideration. The current HomePod mini uses an older processor. A compatible iPhone running Apple Intelligence may also be part of the arrangement, as it is for Siri AI features on newer Apple Watch models. That would follow the requirements reported in our iOS 27 Siri AI coverage.
Apple’s current HomePod already handles Siri requests, smart-home controls and audio playback. The reported change is the larger language-model layer, which could explain why older speakers are not receiving it. Apple has not said which existing models, if any, will be supported.
This is separate from Apple’s four-HomePod surround plans
The report should not be confused with Apple’s separate work on a four-HomePod surround sound system. That project concerns speaker roles and home theatre playback; this leak concerns Siri AI running on the speaker itself. Apple is also expected to update Apple TV hardware and introduce a new home hub, with the wider smart-home push possibly arriving from October. Those launch details remain unconfirmed.
For now, the practical answer is simple: current HomePod owners should not assume Siri AI is coming to their speaker through a routine update. Apple has not confirmed the hardware list, launch timing or local availability.
Will current HomePods get Siri AI?
Apple has not confirmed compatibility. The absence of Siri AI on existing speakers despite audioOS 27 references suggests newer hardware may be required, but that remains a report rather than an Apple statement.
Why might a new HomePod mini need a faster chip?
Siri AI is a larger language-model feature than the current voice assistant, so Apple may need a newer processor for on-device work or faster interaction with a compatible iPhone.
Is this the same as Apple’s four-HomePod surround system?
No. The surround work concerns speaker placement and home-theatre playback, while this report concerns Siri AI and its interface on an individual HomePod.
