According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Siri is poised for a substantial upgrade in the forthcoming iOS 18. Having been integrated into every iPhone since the iPhone 4s and featured on numerous other Apple devices, Siri will now be able to control various elements within an application.
Rather than relying on touch commands, users would soon be able to ask Siri to perform specific tasks, such as opening a file or sending an email, within an app. Initially, this enhanced functionality will be limited to Apple-made applications and will support only one command at a time. However, future updates are expected to enable more complex interactions, like moving a file from one location to another or editing a photo before emailing it.
To achieve this enhanced functionality, Apple has reportedly revamped Siri’s underlying software using large language models. Beyond application control, Siri could also take on other generative AI tasks such as summarizing articles or compiling notes, significantly boosting its capabilities alongside the advanced functionality offered by Siri Shortcuts. The AI advancements will not only make Siri more practical but also position it as a stronger competitor against Amazon’s Alexa and Google Assistant.
This news follows closely on the heels of a report from The Information indicating that Apple has entered into an agreement with OpenAI to integrate AI features into its platforms. While the specific details of this collaboration remain unclear, it’s speculated that elements of ChatGPT technology might be incorporated into Siri, although the core app functionalities seem to be developed internally by Apple.
With AI taking center stage, WWDC24 promises to be an event focused on advancements across all of Apple’s ecosystems. TechRadar will be providing on-site coverage, and more insights on what to expect from the event can be found here.
