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Siri AI Is Coming to Apple TV. Here's Which Models Get It for Free.

Siri AI on Apple TV arrives with tvOS 27.2 as a free beta on the 2021 and 2022 Apple TV 4K. Here's what it does, what it needs, and which boxes miss out.

Moses SmithPublished

Siri AI on Apple TV: three friends on a couch watching a movie in a dim living room

Last updated: 2026-10-16

I've got an Apple TV, and I've never been a fan of Siri on it. It almost feels like AI without the processor behind it. So when Apple announced the new $299 Apple TV 4K on October 13 and led with Siri AI, the part I cared about was in the fine print: the old boxes get it too, for free.

Which Apple TV models get Siri AI

Any Apple TV 4K from 2021 on gets Siri AI as a free beta in tvOS 27.2. The 2017 model and the Apple TV HD don't.

  • Apple TV 4K, 4th generation (new, $299): Siri AI at launch on November 13
  • Apple TV 4K, 3rd generation (2022): yes, with the tvOS 27.2 update
  • Apple TV 4K, 2nd generation (2021): yes, with the tvOS 27.2 update
  • Apple TV 4K, 1st generation (2017) and Apple TV HD: no, they don't run tvOS 27

That's straight from Apple's press release footnote and MacRumors' device list. Not sure which one you have? Go to Settings > General > About, read the Model line, and match it on Apple's model page.

Siri AI on Apple TV showing a row of nature documentaries with follow-up suggestions
Siri AI's full-screen results on Apple TV, with follow-up suggestions under the answer. Image: Apple

What Siri AI actually does on the TV

You ask for shows in plain English, you ask questions mid-episode without leaving the show, and it can find the thing a friend texted you about.

You can ask "What Apple TV shows won at the Emmy Awards this year?" and get poster art with suggestions like "More award-winning comedies." Mid-episode you can ask "Where was Pluribus filmed?" or "Is this appropriate for a 15-year-old?" and the answer shows up in a small overlay instead of pausing everything. With an Apple Intelligence iPhone in the house, "Play the show Alinda recommended" digs that out of your messages.

The one thing the old boxes don't get is hands-free. The new Apple TV 4K has three far-field microphones, so you can just talk to the room. On the 2021 and 2022 models you still hold the Siri button on the remote.

A group of friends on a couch with pizza and drinks, watching TV together
The pitch is that you stop hunting through menus and just ask. Photo: cottonbro studio, Pexels

What you need before it works

The home owner in the Home app needs an iPhone or iPad that runs Apple Intelligence, on the latest software, with Siri AI turned on and set to a supported language.

The TV doesn't get Siri AI on its own, a phone has to unlock it. Once the owner sets it up, everyone else in the house can use it without their own Apple Intelligence device, except for personal requests that read your messages or calendar. If your phone is still waiting, the Siri AI waitlist guide covers getting it turned on.

It's English only at launch, in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore and South Africa. It's not available in the EU, on the phone or the TV.

What to watch out for

It's a beta, it's English-only, and the free part has an asterisk.

I'll update this when tvOS 27.2 lands and I've actually talked to it.

Related reading: How to get Siri AI off the waitlist | How to turn off Siri AI and get Siri Classic back | iOS 27 Siri AI beta: should you install it? | New to AI? Start here

A few fair questions

Which Apple TV models get Siri AI?

Apple TV 4K 4th generation (the new $299 one), plus the 3rd generation from 2022 and the 2nd generation from 2021 through the tvOS 27.2 update. The original Apple TV 4K from 2017 and the Apple TV HD don't get it because they don't run tvOS 27.

Do I have to pay for Siri AI on Apple TV?

No. It arrives as a free software update, tvOS 27.2, on supported boxes. Apple does say some server-side Apple Intelligence features have daily usage limits and that expanded access will cost money later, but the base feature is free.

What do I need for Siri AI to work on my Apple TV?

The person set as the home owner in the Home app needs an iPhone or iPad that runs Apple Intelligence, on the latest software, with Siri AI turned on and set to a supported language. Everyone else in the house can then use it, except for personal requests.

When does Siri AI arrive on Apple TV?

Apple hasn't given a date for tvOS 27.2. The new Apple TV 4K ships November 13 with Siri AI in beta, so the update for older boxes is expected around then.

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