tech
Apple finally fixed Siri. So why does it feel anticlimactic?
Apple’s long-awaited AI overhaul finally makes Siri the assistant it was always supposed to be. But after years of delays, the launch lands in an AI landscape where chatbots have evolved into agents that can code, reason, create media, and complete complex tasks. Siri AI is genuinely useful, yet it arrives at a moment when simply being a capable AI assistant no longer feels revolutionary.
TL;DR
- Siri AI is now available in the consumer beta build of iOS 27.
- The AI assistant understands personal context, answers questions using world knowledge, and finds information stored on the iPhone.
- Users can engage in natural, back-and-forth conversations with Siri, with adjustable voice expressivity and pacing.
- Siri can now access and retrieve specific information like photos, emails, contacts, texts, and calendar appointments based on context.
- It can also find information saved in photos, such as a Driver's License number, or QR codes.
- Siri can launch websites, use apps, get directions, play music, edit photos, and draft emails.
- The assistant now consistently and accurately plays requested songs, podcasts, or audiobooks on preferred apps.
- Siri can assist with brainstorming, learning new topics, and exploring recipes.
- Improvements are attributed to Apple's partnership with Google, utilizing Gemini AI models to train Apple's proprietary Foundation Models.
- The new Siri is designed to run on Apple Silicon and its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.
- Despite its improved functionality, the launch feels less revolutionary due to the rapid evolution of AI tools.
- The general public will have access to the new Siri upon the official release of iOS 27 in September.