iPadOS 27.2 Beta Adds Mac-Style Siri Popup to Text Selection

The feature displays a small Siri icon in the top-left corner of selected text. Hovering over it with a cursor expands it into an "Ask Siri" text box. On the iPad, this behavior requires a connected trackpad. Without a trackpad attached, selecting text still reveals the full edit menu where users can tap to open Siri, though the trackpad-based interaction is described as more smooth and seamless.

The popup adds to a range of existing ways to invoke Siri on iPadOS 27. Users can activate the assistant via a "Siri" or "Hey Siri" voice prompt, pull down from the top of the screen, use the new Siri option in the edit menu, open the standalone Siri app, or use Command-Space to open Spotlight and ask Siri a question from there.

The feature comes from macOS 27 Golden Gate, where selecting text triggers the same small icon that expands on hover. It was not available in iPadOS 27 but arrives with version 27.2.

Siri AI is positioned as the tentpole addition to iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and companion releases, with Apple offering multiple access points across its platforms. The iPadOS 27.2 beta also includes a redesigned Health app.

The port reflects a broader pattern: macOS includes many small productivity-focused features that speed up everyday interactions but are missing from iPadOS. Bringing a recent Mac feature to the iPad narrows that gap for users with a trackpad attached, though the experience remains less seamless without one.