Siri has always been lame — until now. Here's how to make the latest version pay off.

The useful part

After more than a decade of jokes, false promises, and disappointments, Apple's Siri is finally worth the hype. The latest version brings a bunch of new capabilities to iPhone, thanks to Apple Intelligence. Here's what it can do and how you can enable it on your device — if you meet the requirements.

How it works

• Compared to the old Siri that sometimes struggled with basic facts, the new version is light-years ahead.
• In fact, if you want to use the new Siri, you'll have to sign up and spend time on a digital waiting list.
• I signed up during the public beta, and I only had to wait about 10 minutes.
• Now that iOS 27 is out for everyone, though, wait times can stretch out to several days to several weeks.
• So for those interested in the new Siri, you'll want to sign up as soon as possible.

What to take from it

Open the Settings app, tap "Siri," then select "Try Siri AI (Beta)," and you're in the queue.

Details worth keeping

The new Siri isn't just marketing fluff or corporate spin. I've used it for more than a week, and I've come away impressed. The new Siri is included with iOS 27 on supported devices.