Apple to Revolutionize Siri with a Major Upgrade
Apple is preparing a significant upgrade for its virtual assistant Siri. Leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technology based on large language models (LLMs), users will soon interact with individual features of applications using voice commands.
Full Control over Apps with Siri
Insiders familiar with Apple’s plans have revealed that the updated Siri will offer unprecedented control over app functions on Apple devices. Users will be able to control specific documents, move notes between folders, delete emails, launch selected news stories on Apple News, share web links, and much more, all by using voice commands.
Currently, Siri’s app management capabilities are limited. Users can play music, search the web, control smart devices, but cannot interact with specific options and data within applications.
Siri’s Major Upgrade Announcement
According to Bloomberg, Siri’s upgrade will be a central announcement at the annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) scheduled for June 10th, 2024. The event will also showcase other interesting AI features for the Apple ecosystem. This includes transcribing audio notes, automatically summarising web pages and notifications, responding to messages, advanced AI-based photo editing tools, and more.
Revamping Siri with Neural Network Technology
The implementation of Siri’s new functionality demanded a complete overhaul of the base software using neural networks. Soon, Siri will be able to sequentially process commands, with future upgrades allowing it to handle more complex multi-part instructions. For example, transcribing an audio meeting recording, highlighting key points, and emailing a summary to a colleague can all be done in one voice command.
Data Processing and Privacy Concerns
Note that data will be processed in multiple ways – either locally or in the cloud. The system will autonomously determine where – on the user’s device or on the company’s servers. This raises some concerns about privacy, but Apple reassures that confidential data will be securely protected by the Apple Chips in Data Centers (ACDC) system.
The Future of Siri and Apple
Clearly, Apple aims to regain Siri’s leadership position among virtual assistants, which has eroded over the years with advanced solutions from Amazon and Google. Moreover, the company is hopeful that the new AI features will boost the sales of new iPhone, iPad, and Mac models. The release of upgraded Siri is not anticipated before autumn 2024 as part of iOS 18.
