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Apple today released the second public beta of macOS Golden Gate, allowing non-developers to test the software ahead of its fall release. You can sign up to test the update on Apple's beta website, and then download it by going to System Settings > General > Software Update and toggling on the macOS 27 beta.

macOS-27-Public-Beta-Thumb-2.jpg

macOS Golden Gate includes the same Siri AI features as iOS 27 and iPadOS 27, but you get to Siri through Spotlight with a Command + Space keyboard shortcut. Siri can search the web to answer questions, look through your personal data like photos, emails, and messages to help you find what you're searching for, and complete actions in and between apps. There is a dedicated Siri app, and you can hold ongoing conversations with Siri.

Apple brought Visual Intelligence to the Mac, so Siri can look at what's on your screen and answer questions about it.

The Liquid Glass design introduced last year has been updated, and Apple added a slider for controlling overall system transparency. Liquid Glass opacity has been changed so it better diffuses complex content, and other design changes bring more depth and separation to the UI so it's easier to tell which window is active.

Apps now feature uniform toolbars with headings and controls that are easier to read, and windows no longer have such dramatically rounded corners. Sidebars are no longer floating and extend edge-to-edge, plus window positioning is more consistent across external displays.

Write with Siri is able to generate text from scratch, correct your grammar, or give you feedback on your writing, and there are new AI editing tools in the Photos app. In Shortcuts, you can create automations with natural language requests, and search has been improved in Mail and Messages. Apple made multiple performance improvements across macOS Golden Gate for a faster, smoother experience even on older Macs.

More on the new features in macOS 27 can be found in our macOS Golden Gate roundup.

Article Link: Second macOS Golden Gate Public Beta Now Available
 
I just installed PB2, so I can’t speak to its stability with confidence, but PB1 was solid. Small issues here and there but very minor in my experience. I genuinely dislike going back to my production MBP running 26.6.2, since the interface updates on 27 are so good.
 
I ran the Tahoe betas on a virtual machine and it was a great, risk-free way to test drive the OS without impacting my Mac. I gather that’s not so easily done this time around:


But I’m going to see if I can start a Tahoe VM and opt in to the beta program for GG from inside it...

edit: no dice. I enrolled in the Beta program with the same Apple Account the VM is using, and still see this. I do correctly see the beta options on my actual Mac, but not interested in running it there, just within the VM. If anybody has any tips, interested to know!

Screenshot 2026-07-22 at 1.45.50 PM.png
 
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