Apple’s WWDC 2024 keynote had a rather lukewarm start. And yes, Apple kept the most awaited announcement around Generative AI (GenAI) till the very end of the keynote. However, nearly one hour in, Apple CEO Tim Cook finally discussed the big AI changes. In the true Cupertino style, it is called Apple Intelligence.
And yes, Apple Intelligence also means that Siri has finally undergone a much-needed overhaul and a new look. Siri has “entered a new era,” which is what most of us wished for. And it seems like our wishes have come true. So, let’s dive a little into the new Siri era or Siri 2.0, as some would call it.
What Does The New Siri Bring to The Table?
Right off the bat, Siri has a new look, which reminds one of the Instagram logo but feels fresh, especially when the old look has been around for a relatively long time. Activating Siri is also different. Instead of the logo appearing at the bottom, it will glow around the edges of the screen. This animation also feels quite refreshing, as if Siri is listening. The old animation often appeared too late, so we hope this one’s quick.
Siri has also become more intelligent, backed by Apple Intelligence, which relies on the company’s language model—a three billion-parameter Small Language Model (SLM). This approach will ensure that most AI-based tasks are run on the device locally. For more complex computational tasks requiring a cloud-based connection, Apple Intelligence will rely on Private Cloud Compute, with the company using its secure cloud servers running on Apple’s silicon server chips.
This means that even if you use Apple Intelligence on Siri, it won’t compromise user privacy, and given the on-device processing, there will be lower latency. This is notable as Apple needed to develop something of its own to rival Google and Microsoft, which are considered ahead in the AI race.
While the company is infamous for being late in introducing features that other brands are quick to add, it does bring its unique take to the table, as is evident with Apple Intelligence. However, only time will tell how its Apple Intelligence features and Siri perform in the real world.
Yes, there’s also ChatGPT integration for Siri, which has been criticised by many, including Tesla boss Elon Musk. But it feels like a helping hand, especially if you are used to the chatbot. Access is free, and there’s no need to create an account.
The voice assistant is now trained to be more natural and personal—traits we have longed for. We want Siri to sound more human and understand us better, so here we have Siri understanding us even when we fumble, just like our friends do. We hope this happens more often than Siri apologising for its lack of understanding. We have yet to try the new Siri, but we hope it will understand Hindi better.
Next, Siri can better carry out everyday tasks easily, even across third-party apps–although the app list is unknown. So, be it finding a specific photo and sending it to someone or picking out the book recommendation someone sent you, Siri can handle many things. We are yet to see how accurate this turns out to be.
There’s a Microsoft Recall-like feature, too, which can enable Siri to help you find stuff even you have forgotten about, which can be handy. Another helpful ability is Siri’s ability to help you with questions about your iPhone, iPad, or Mac device. This will be like a how-to guide if you use an Apple device for the first time or have forgotten how to access something on the device.
The most interesting feature is Siri’s on-screen awareness. I hope it works more like a privacy feature. For instance, Siri learns of sensitive information via a WhatsApp message and somewhat removes the notification or refrains from reading it out loud. Let’s see how this works once Apple rolls it out.
What More to Expect
We have talked about the Apple Intelligence features, and we hope Siri will help with those, too, especially the writing tools. I would love to ask Siri to proofread an article sent to me in the mail and present it to me or help me review an email I just wrote. Gemini integration is also slated to arrive later, and who knows, it will only enhance Siri’s powers.
These additions are compelling, but will they finally be enough for people to see Siri’s worth? We will know once the functionalities are widely available for all. The problem is that these features, including the Apple Intelligence features, will only be available for the A17 Pro-powered iPhone 15 Pro models.
Not all iPhone users can experience these AI features when they eventually roll out, thus limiting Apple’s AI plans. Hopefully, with the future generations of iPhones, Apple will ensure more users have access to Apple Intelligence and the newer Siri.
