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Siri does more than ever. Even before you ask.

Siri is Apple’s personal assistant technology that debuted in 2011 with the iPhone 4S. Apple purchased Siri in 2010. At the time, it was a dedicated app on the iPhone. When it became built into the iPhone, it could do basic things like play music and make phone calls.

Now, it can do things like integrate with third-party messaging apps. payments, ride-sharing service, calling app, set timers, get directions, add reminders, start TV shows on the Apple TV, make language translations, search for photos, open documents, interact with your smart home though HomeKit, and a lot more.

In iOS 12, it became integrated into more third-party apps through Shortcuts. Companies can build their own interactions for the service to work with.

Compatible Devices

iPhone

iPad

Siri Remote for Apple TV

AirPods

HomePod

Apple Watch

Car Play

Proposed law to ban teens from using AI chatbots may pose problems for Siri

New law to ban teens from using AI chatbots may pose problems for the new Siri | Siri logo on 3D glass

A bipartisan bill could lead to teams being banned from using AI chatbots, in response to parents expressing concerns about inappropriate content ranging from sexual conversations to assistance with suicide planning.

If the proposed GUARD Act becomes law, then it could impact Apple in three different ways – including the company’s plans for the new Siri

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Apple faces cybercrime investigation in France after Siri complaint

Apple faces cybercrime investigation in France after Siri complaint | Stock photo of a man using a blocking gesture

Apple is facing a cybercrime investigation in France over its capture and review of voice recordings to improve the quality of Siri responses.

The probe faces complaints by a human rights organization over a 2019 revelation that Apple was using contractors to listen to voice recordings of Siri interactions by its customers despite its privacy promises …

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Pressure mounts on Siri as ChatGPT ads start airing on primetime TV

Pressure mounts on Siri as ChatGPT ads start airing on primetime TV (still shown)

OpenAI is about to launch a series of ChatGPT ads, airing on primetime TV, streaming, and social media – with the first video being broadcast later today during NFL Primetime.

The latest move adds further pressure on Apple by highlighting the vast gulf between the current capabilities of Siri and generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT …

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Expect the iPhone 17 event to avoid Apple Intelligence promises

Apple event won't promise upcoming Apple Intelligence features

It’s finally the day of the Apple event, and everyone is eagerly awaiting the official launch of the iPhone 17 lineup. 9to5Mac readers are mostly power users, so it’s no surprise that the thing you’re most looking forward to is the unveiling of the iPhone 17 Pro Max – though there is also substantial interest in the all-new iPhone 17 Air.

While we’re expecting a fairly packed event, there’s likely to be one significant difference from last year’s iPhone 16 launch: a conspicuous absence of Apple intelligence promises …

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Google’s Gemini smart home plans are about to make Siri look even dumber

Google's Gemini smart home plans really pile pressure onto Apple | Smashed glass version of Apple Intelligence logo

Apple is already under massive fire for falling behind in AI, and Google’s Gemini smart home plans are about to make that a whole lot worse.

Not only is Siri lagging dramatically behind generative AI chatbots in smartphone-based tasks, but Google is about to make Apple’s assistant look really dumb when it comes to smart homes …

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Stats suggest Apple’s slow rollout of AI agent capabilities may be wise

Stats suggest Apple's slow rollout of AI agent capabilities may be no bad thing | Cartoon style AI bot using a laptop

One of the many delayed Apple Intelligence features is known as App Intents, and we’re starting to see evidence that taking an extremely cautious approach to the rollout may be no bad thing.

Before the comments catch fire, I should stress that I’m most assuredly not giving Apple a free pass on the slow rollout of new Siri capabilities in general. There are a great many capabilities which should very definitely have been launched years ago. Indeed, I’ve argued that the delay is now so embarrassing that Apple should probably allow us to choose our own chatbot to stand in for Siri, and the majority of you agreed with me. But when it comes to AI agents, taking things slowly may be the right approach …

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Seven years later, people still haven’t changed how they use Siri

It’s proving a very long wait for the new Siri, but perhaps it doesn’t matter so much after all. A new survey shows that most people are using Siri and other voice assistants in exactly the same way they did way back in 2018.

While some new capabilities have been added, and there are some generational differences in usage, the vast majority of it falls into five rather basic categories …

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Gurman: All-new App Intents feature and Siri overhaul on track to launch next spring

Apple Intelligence could be about to launch in China despite US government fears |

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is aiming to ship its brand new App Intents feature, allowing Siri to take actions for you, next Spring – alongside its long-promised Siri overhaul. These features were initially on track to launch during the iOS 18 release cycle, though Apple faced engineering delays. Now, they should launch by ~iOS 26.4, according to current reporting.

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Amazon’s rocky Alexa+ launch might justify Apple’s slow pace with next-gen Siri

New law to ban teens from using AI chatbots may pose problems for the new Siri | Siri logo on 3D glass

Amazon has finally started rolling out Alexa+, its oft-delayed overhaul of the Alexa voice assistant built on large language model technology. However, Alexa+ shows how difficult it is to replace a mature voice assistant with generative AI, especially when users expect instant, consistent results for simple tasks. It’s a real reality check on the notion that Amazon has managed to release something Apple promised and hasn’t shipped.

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Apple’s Answers team is a bigger deal than it might seem

Apple's Answers team is a bigger deal than it might seem | Lots of dark question marks, with two of them lit up

A Bloomberg report over the weekend suggested that Apple has created a new Answers, Knowledge and Information team as part of its Apple Intelligence efforts.

While that might not sound like a huge deal, effectively just catching up with what others are doing, I actually think it’s about the smartest thing the company could be doing right now in terms of addressing Siri’s reputation …

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Apple shareholders sue over Apple Intelligence and Siri delays

iOS 26 Apple Intelligence

Apple is continuing to face fallout from its Apple Intelligence rollout. As spotted by Reuters, Apple shareholders have sued Apple in a proposed class action securities fraud case for allegedly “downplaying how long it needed to integrate advanced artificial intelligence into its Siri voice assistant.”

The lawsuit alleges that this misrepresentation negatively impacted iPhone sales and Apple’s stock price.

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Siri vaporware dispute continues, as high-profile commenters hit back at Apple

Siri vaporware dispute continues, as high-profile commenters hit back at Apple | Colorful photo representing vapor trails

Apple may have belatedly responded to accusations of showing off Siri vaporware at last year’s WWDC, but the controversy is showing no sign of dying down anytime soon.

John Gruber – author of the original piece taking issue with Apple showing off features it hadn’t demonstrated to anyone outside the company – is now joined by M.G. Siegler and others …

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