Apple lets iPad users try new Siri camera AI before the official update

How it works

A new iPad camera feature called Visual Intelligence that uses Siri AI to identify and explain anything you point the camera at

Open the Camera app and tap the Siri tab
Point your iPad at something or circle it with Pencil
Ask Siri a question about what you see
Siri gives you an instant answer using the camera

Guess

Can you use Visual Intelligence without being connected to the internet?

What you could do with it

A user could point their iPad at a bird and ask Siri what kind it is, receiving an instant explanation based on what the camera sees ¹.

An iPad user can take a picture of something, draw a circle around it with the Apple Pencil, and then ask Siri AI for additional information about that object.

Someone could open the Camera app on an eligible iPad and tap the new Siri tab to explore items around them without running an internet search ¹.

An exampleInvented to explain it

Maya, taking a walk in a park with her iPad

MayaWhat kind of bird is that?

SiriThat looks like a red-winged blackbird. It has distinctive yellow shoulder patches.

MayaWhere do they usually live?

SiriRed-winged blackbirds prefer wetland areas near reeds and bushes. They nest close to water.

MayaAre they protected?

SiriYes, they are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the US and Canada.

Maya learned about the bird without leaving her bench or searching online.

What the upgrade does

The new feature is called Visual Intelligence, and it currently works on iPhones. Starting with iPadOS 27.3, it will come to compatible iPads ¹.

When you open the Camera app, you'll find a new Siri tab alongside the usual Photo, Video, and Portrait modes. Point your iPad at anything and ask Siri a question about it — for example "what kind of bird is that?" or "where was this painting made?" — and it answers using what the camera sees ¹.

There's one thing iPads can do that iPhones can't: you can use the Apple Pencil to circle an object in the frame and ask Siri about just that part. It works similarly to Google's Circle to Search feature on Android phones ¹.

To try it now, you don't need to wait for the official release. Apple launched the first beta of iPadOS 27.3 in early November 2026 ¹². The public version is expected in December .

Which iPads are supported?

Not every iPad can run this. You need one of these models ¹:

iPad Pro with an M1 chip or newer
iPad Air with an M1 chip or newer
iPad mini with an A17 Pro or A20 Pro chip

On current versions of iPadOS, you can already access Visual Intelligence by long-pressing the Camera Control button on supported iPhones, or pressing the Action button if your iPad has one. The new Siri tab in the Camera app gives it a much easier spot to find ¹.

How to install the beta

If you want to try it before everyone else, here's how ¹:

Open Settings on your iPad.
Go to General > Software Update.
Tap Beta Updates, then choose iPadOS 27 Public Beta.
Return to Software Update and tap Download and Install.

Apple recommends backing up your iPad first — either to iCloud, a Mac, or a Windows PC ¹. Beta software isn't finished, meaning bugs and broken apps are possible. A full backup keeps your photos, files, and settings safe if something goes wrong.

If the idea of running beta software doesn't appeal to you, that's fine. The public update should arrive any time soon ¹.

Key facts

Visual Intelligence comes to iPadOS 27.3 with a new Siri tab in the Camera app
Apple Pencil lets you circle objects on iPads — a feature not available on iPhones
Beta is available now; public release expected in December 2026
Requires iPad Pro (M1+), iPad Air (M1+), or iPad mini (A17 Pro/A20 Pro)

Sources

How to get this Siri camera upgrade for your iPad before its public release - Engadget — engadget.com
IOS 27 — en.wikipedia.org