Apple Readies Auto-Deleting Chat Option for Chatbot-Style Siri

*Apple will let users set Siri conversations to vanish after 30 days, one year, or never, a move the company hopes will turn its privacy record into an advantage in AI.*

The change

Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman says the feature will appear in the more conversational version of Siri planned for iOS 27. Users will choose how long histories are kept, with automatic deletion as the default for the shortest setting. The option stands apart from the temporary-incognito modes offered by most competing assistants.

How it works

The three retention choices—30 days, one year, or forever—apply to the full chat record rather than single sessions. Once a period expires, the data is removed without further action from the user. Apple has not disclosed whether the setting will be surfaced during the first use of the new Siri or buried in Settings.

Privacy angle

The company is explicitly linking the feature to its broader privacy positioning. Sources close to the effort indicate Apple believes some users will accept reduced convenience in exchange for stronger data controls. No comparable permanent or long-term auto-delete controls have been announced by OpenAI, Google, or Anthropic for their consumer chat products.

Why it matters

The decision tests whether privacy defaults can still win users when model quality trails the market. If the auto-delete option proves popular, it could force other assistants to add similar controls or risk appearing careless with user data. For developers and enterprises already wary of long-term chat logs, the setting lowers one barrier to trying Apple’s system on iPhones and Macs. The feature’s real test will come when iOS 27 reaches users and they see how much context the shorter retention windows actually remove.

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Sources:

• The Verge
• Engadget

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