Apple introduced a new Siri AI update during its Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, promising a more conversational voice assistant for its users. The update, part of the broader Apple Intelligence initiative, will be available in OS updates this fall and will work alongside a new Google-powered update to Apple’s on-device Foundation Models. Apple emphasized that its approach to AI is centered around user needs, with Craig Federighi, the company’s SVP of Software Engineering, stating that they believe truly helpful AI must be centered around you and your needs.
The company showcased Siri AI through scripted conversational demos, highlighting its ability to handle multi-step tasks and integrate seamlessly with various apps and services. In one example, a user asked about World Cup schedules, then requested recipes inspired by a Brazil vs Morocco match, and later asked for a dessert mentioned by a friend named Maria. Siri AI was able to compile this information into a watch party menu and send it to a group chat. In another demo, Siri helped find the location of a photo of an arch and provided directions to that location with a stop at a friend’s new address, all without manual input.
Apple also highlighted how Siri AI benefits from tight integration into the personal context of data on a user’s device, allowing it to search across messages and emails and customize writing style for emails based on previous communication. Additionally, the new Siri AI features include visual intelligence for the camera app and a 'Write with Siri' tool for generating text and proofreading. These features will be integrated into Spotlight search on macOS and will be available in English initially, with plans to expand to other languages. Apple also stressed that all new features are built with strong privacy protections to ensure user data remains secure.
Source: arstechnica
