Code buried inside tvOS 27 beta 2 contains explicit references to Siri AI, offering the clearest sign yet that Apple’s redesigned assistant is heading to Apple TV and HomePod, likely alongside new hardware this fall. Macworld’s Filipe Espósito found the references tied specifically to the HomePod setup process inside build 24J5305f, which Apple seeded to developers on June 22. This is worth flagging precisely because Apple made virtually no mention of Apple TV or HomePod during its WWDC26 keynote earlier this month, leaving both platforms absent from its Siri AI announcements.
tvOS beta 1, which shipped on June 8 alongside the other WWDC26 developer seeds, already included some Apple Intelligence references in tvOS 27 code. Beta 2 deepens those references with new Siri AI-specific code connected to the HomePod setup flow. The code doesn’t reveal exactly how the features will work in practice, but it confirms Apple is actively building the infrastructure for Siri AI across its home devices, not only on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Why Apple TV and HomePod were left out at WWDC
When Apple unveiled Siri AI at WWDC26, it described the revamped assistant as “profoundly more intelligent, knowledgeable, and capable.” Developer testing for the new Siri features began immediately across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27, with tvOS and HomePod software absent from that list. Apple has not publicly explained the omission, but the reasoning has been reported for some time.
According to Bloomberg, new Apple TV and HomePod hardware has been held back for months specifically because Apple wanted to tie the releases to its Apple Intelligence features, which had faced repeated delays. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman wrote:
“Finally, the new Apple TV and HomePod mini with Apple Intelligence are both in very advanced testing. I’d be surprised if they didn’t come this year as well. But don’t expect major changes with those items, other than support for the new Siri and possibly a tweaked Apple TV remote.”
That framing matches what the beta code suggests: Siri AI is the primary reason these devices exist in their current form, and Apple is saving the full reveal for a fall hardware event, most likely in September.
What new hardware is expected this fall
Three new home devices are anticipated for fall 2026, along with a fourth product that goes beyond the existing lineup.
- Apple TV 4K (4th gen): Upgrades from the A15 Bionic to the A17 Pro chip, adds Apple’s N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread support, and keeps a broadly similar design to the current model. The Siri Remote is reportedly refreshed in some form.
- HomePod mini 2: Moves from the S5 chip to the S9, and is also expected to gain the N1 chip along with an updated UWB chip.
- Full-size HomePod (3rd gen): A new version of the larger HomePod, with specific chip details not yet confirmed.
- Home hub display: A new centralized smart home device with a 7-inch square display and built-in speakers, designed for controlling smart home products, making video calls, checking weather, and interacting with Siri. It will run a version of tvOS, and some signs point to a possible rebranding of that shared software base as homeOS.
The current Apple TV 4K has been on sale since October 2022, and the HomePod mini dates back to October 2020, so both are long overdue for a refresh.
Software changes already in tvOS 27
Separate from the beta code discovery, iOS 27 beta 2 introduced the ability to update Apple TV software remotely through the Home app on iPhone, iPad, or Mac, without needing the Apple TV to be turned on. This mirrors how HomePod software updates already work, pointing to Apple unifying its home device software infrastructure ahead of new hardware. The publicly announced changes in tvOS 27 itself remain limited: a redesigned Podcasts app, support for larger text sizes, and a more responsive Control Center.
The public beta for tvOS 27 is expected in July, with the full release following in fall 2026. Siri AI isn’t available on any current Apple TV or HomePod model, so the software update alone won’t change that until new hardware ships.
