Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is a breeding ground for rumors about upcoming software updates, and this year, Siri, Apple’s digital assistant, has been at the forefront. A recent leak from Apple Insider, reportedly from sources close to Apple’s AI projects, provides the clearest insight yet into Siri’s upcoming features for various iPhone apps.
Enhanced Natural Language Understanding
The leak indicates that Apple has been concentrating significantly on improving Siri’s ability to understand natural language commands. The tech giant has been training Siri with intentionally vague user requests, such as “I want to make a blog” or “I’m feeling nostalgic right now.”
The goal is to move Siri beyond requiring specific syntax for tasks. Ideally, users won’t have to use precise commands like “turn on the coffee machine,” but can instead say something more natural like, “Hey Siri, I want some coffee.”
Integration with Built-In iPhone Apps
The leak also outlines Siri’s integration with no fewer than 18 built-in iPhone apps. Here are some of the most noteworthy highlights:
- Camera: Siri will be able to handle voice commands for camera control. Users can switch between video and photo modes, set a shutter timer, and toggle between front and rear cameras using voice commands.
- Mail: For the Mail app, Apple is adopting a page from Gmail by using machine learning to automatically classify emails. Additionally, Siri will manage tasks like composing, sending, and scheduling emails, marking emails as junk, setting reminders, summarizing emails, and creating “smart replies.”
- Photos: Apple might introduce a suite of photo editing features powered by generative AI. Features could be similar to those on Pixel phones, such as removing unwanted objects from photos, filling in gaps using generative AI, searching for specific photos based on people or animals in them, and applying AI-powered filters.
- Safari: Siri integration in Safari could offer webpage summaries, akin to the functionality provided by Google’s Gemini on Android. Users can also expect voice commands for creating new tab groups and opening private tabs.
- Voice Memos: Siri will enable completely hands-free voice memo recording. Users can instruct Siri to create a new recording, begin speaking, stop the recording, assign a specific name, and even move it to a designated folder – all through voice commands.
Gradual Rollout
Apple Insider’s report reveals nearly everything Siri will offer in upgrades, so it’s worth a read for those seeking full details.
Regarding the launch, Apple leak specialist Mark Gurman notes that not all these features will be available immediately. While some might be announced at WWDC, their actual release could be staggered until 2025 via software updates.
