Is it impossible to disable Siri on macOS 27?

I disabled Siri in the Settings app, and then further disabled Siri and its extensions in Settings > Screen Time.Next, I disabled all Siri-related and Apple Intelligence-related services as per https://github.com/OleksandrKrupko/mac-os-debloatBut after restarting, I could still see a "Siri" process running in Activity Monitor. Upon further inspection, I found that it is the "Siri AI.app".These "features", together with Apple's Personal Context sound very similar to Microsoft's Recall.Does anyone have the same experience? Is it really impossible to fully turn off Siri, Siri AI, Apple Intelligence and all related services and features on macOS 27?

Hacker NewsToolAISource
0Sign in to voteCopy link

FL score

42

out of 100

Verdict

SKIP

high confidence

Competition

No competitor data yet

Trend

No signal yet

A tool to fully disable Siri and Apple Intelligence on macOS solves a real but niche problem for privacy-conscious power users with no clear business model.

The pain

Users who disable Siri through Settings still find Siri processes running in the background, suggesting Apple does not honor user preferences and may be collecting data without consent. This mirrors privacy concerns around Microsoft Recall. The frustration is real for users who value privacy and system control.

The gap

No official Apple tool exists to fully disable Siri. Third-party solutions like mac-os-debloat exist but are incomplete and require manual maintenance. However, the gap is small because most users either accept Siri or switch to Linux. The solution is also fragile since each macOS update may re-enable disabled services.

Build angle

Build a one-time utility that identifies and disables all Siri and Apple Intelligence processes, services, and launch agents. Charge a one-time fee of 5 to 15 dollars. Alternatively, build a subscription service that re-applies these disables after each macOS update. The first model is simpler but has no recurring revenue. The second model requires ongoing work to maintain compatibility.

Strengths

  • Real pain point for privacy-conscious users who distrust Apple.
  • Low technical barrier to build an initial version.
  • Potential to expand into a broader macOS debloating tool.
  • Growing awareness of privacy issues makes the audience more receptive than five years ago.

Risks

  • Apple may patch the tool with each OS update, making maintenance a constant burden.
  • Legal risk if Apple claims the tool violates terms of service or copyright.
  • Tiny addressable market. Most users either accept Siri or do not care. Power users often use Linux instead.
  • No recurring revenue model unless you build a subscription, which requires ongoing engineering effort.
  • Reputational risk if the tool breaks user systems or fails to work as promised.
  • Users expect this functionality to be free since it is just toggling settings.
  • No defensibility. Once you publish the steps, anyone can fork or copy the solution.

Questions about this idea?

FlyBot reads the scoring and gives you a second opinion on “Is it impossible to disable Siri on macOS 27?”.

Open FlyBot