If you skipped the $299 Apple TV 4K that went on sale Friday, November 13, the box already under your TV can now run Siri AI. Apple released tvOS 27.2.1 on Friday, MacRumors reports, and Apple's Siri AI requirements page lists that version as the one that brings Siri AI, which Apple still labels a beta, to Apple TV 4K (2nd generation and later). Every Apple TV 4K Apple has released since 2021 qualifies.
The update is free. On the Apple TV, open Settings, choose System, select Software Updates, then Update Software, and pick Download and Install. Leave it plugged in, because it restarts more than once before it's finished. If Automatically Update is turned on in that same menu, tvOS 27.2.1 will install on its own, though Apple doesn't say how soon.
What you need besides the update
On Apple TV, Apple's page says Siri AI also needs "a Siri AI-enabled, paired device nearby." On iPhone, Apple's Siri AI list covers the iPhone 15 Pro models, any iPhone 16 or later, iPhone Duo and iPhone Air on iOS 27. It also includes iPads with M1 or later and the iPad mini with A17 Pro or A20 Pro. If nobody in the house has one of those, the update still installs, but the Apple TV can't use Siri AI.
Apple also says the device language and the Siri language have to match, and both have to be English, French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese or Spanish. Siri AI won't work in mainland China when your Apple Account region is mainland China. Apple's page doesn't spell out an EU rule for Apple TV. Siri AI isn't available on iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch in the EU, so check your setup before counting on it there.
Not sure which Apple TV you own? Apple's model guide lists the 2nd generation as model A2169 from 2021, and the 3rd generation as A2737 (Wi‑Fi) or A2843 (Wi‑Fi + Ethernet) from 2022. The 2017 Apple TV 4K (A1842) and Apple TV HD are left out. If you have one of those, our Apple TV 4K upgrade guide goes through whether the new box is worth it, model by model. If you own a 2021 or 2022 box, the case for waiting we made when Apple announced the $299 Apple TV 4K still stands. Among other things, the new model keeps hands free "Siri" from across the room, the A19 chip and surround sound with four HomePods to itself.
HomePod got an update too, without Siri AI
Apple also released HomePod Software 27.2.1 for HomePod and HomePod mini on Friday, according to MacRumors. Neither MacRumors nor 9to5Mac had details on what it changes, and Apple's Siri AI requirements page doesn't list any HomePod model, so don't expect Siri AI on your HomePod from it. That leaves the wait we described when the HomePod mini 2 launched where it was.
If you own a 2021 or 2022 Apple TV 4K, install tvOS 27.2.1 and try Siri AI before you spend $299 on a new box. The thing to watch over the next few weeks is how Siri AI runs on four and five year old hardware compared with the A19 in the new model.
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