Apple Working on Natural Language Updates for Siri, Planning Redesign for macOS Ventura TV App

[MacRumors]

Apple appears to be working on some kind of natural language update for Siri on the Apple TV along with interface changes to the macOS TV app, according to details 9to5Mac located in the latest tvOS 16.4 and macOS Ventura 13.3 betas.

Information sourced from the tvOS 16.4 beta suggests that Apple has developed a "Siri Natural Language Generation" framework, presumably to enhance the personal assistant's natural language capabilities. According to 9to5Mac, Apple is using natural language generation for telling jokes with Siri, but as that functionality is on the iPhone and other devices, it is not quite clear what's changed. As 9to5Mac explains:

In the latest tvOS 16.4 beta, Apple has enabled a new framework for "Siri Natural Language Generation" capabilities. As it currently stands, Apple is only using natural language generation for telling jokes with Siri on Apple TV. The company is experimenting with how language generation could be used for timers, as well.

The updated natural language generation framework seems to be limited to tvOS 16.4 and little is known about it at this time, but 9to5Mac suggests that similar (and not activated) code is included in iOS, HomePod OS, iPadOS, and macOS, so whatever Siri features Apple is working on could also come to all devices in the future.

There is no indication that any natural language enhancement for Siri is an attempt by Apple to compete with Google, Microsoft, and others on AI-enhanced chatbots, but it seems that Apple may have some kind of plan to boost Siri's capabilities starting with tvOS 16.4.

Separately, a hidden version of the Apple TV app for Mac in the latest macOS Ventura 13.3 beta demonstrates a new design. There is an added sidebar for navigation, which brings the Apple TV app for Mac in line with the version for the iPad.

Image via 9to5Mac​

The sidebar brings easier access to various TV app functions, including Apple TV+, Watch Now, the Library, purchasable TV shows and movies, and more. Aside from the sidebar, the interface looks similar to the current TV app.

It's worth noting that the updated version of the TV app is not implemented in the current macOS 13.3 beta, so it could be added in a future beta or Apple could save it for a later software update.

Article Link: Apple Working on Natural Language Updates for Siri, Planning Redesign for macOS Ventura TV App

 

[WiscoNicky]

I hope they add the ability to search the user's library

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Siri in general needs a lot of work. It's still 10 years behind in iOS.

 

[macsplusmacs]

So much nicer!

 

[macsplusmacs]

Siri in general needs a lot of work. It's still 10 years behind.

I think the last 3 months post ChatGPT, apple has realized it for real this time and are going to move full bore towards a better Siri / chatting/ LLM based solution.

 

[maverick100]

it appears the it now allows the user to create play lists that we can transfer to and iPad and iPhone?

Any more info on that?

 

[contacos]

Make Siri multi lingual already! It is ridiculous.

If I am always writing English with contact A, stupid Siri should be smart enough to read out the message correctly instead of throwing out gibberish or saying „this message is in a different language“. It could even be linked to the dictionary or keyboard used for contact A or B.

The keyboard does it, yet Siri cant! You should hear those messages when Siri tries reading me English messages in German or Spanish 😅😵‍💫😭

 

[BGPL]

Siri is way behind. I'm not an amazon fan boy, but Alexa is pretty impressive, especially when compared to Siri.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Do you guys think it will be possible for Siri to find a lost remote in the living room?

 

[stocklen]

Unless and until there exists MacOS versions of the various streaming platform apps.....

So in the UK im talking about iPlayer, ITVX, Prime Video, Disney+....... etc etc etc...

Then the TV app on MacOS is severely limited and useless in that form as the up next list cannot and does not fully sync to the MacOS app....

For me the up next function is the main reason I use the TV app daily - and yet I steer clear of it on the Mac as its pointless withouth that synced content and integration.

 

[Ion-X]

Cool, so they are 3 years behind OpenAI. On the positive side at least they’re slowly catching up?

Siri can’t get much worse so I will take what I can get.

 

[MacAddict1978]

I suspect she will still respond with "I'm not sure how to help with that" 40% of the time.
I've abandoned all hope for Siri. Was excited for improved dictation.... she cannot use commas correctly to save her soul and get more words wrong than before.

Apple should really throw in the towel and just let other options on their devices. Ones that work.

Make Siri multi lingual already! It is ridiculous.

If I am always writing English with contact A, stupid Siri should be smart enough to read out the message correctly instead of throwing out gibberish or saying „this message is in a different language“. It could even be linked to the dictionary or keyboard used for contact A or B.

The keyboard does it, yet Siri cant! You should hear those messages when Siri tries reading me English messages in German or Spanish 😅😵‍💫😭

She can't even understand simple English - you want them to unleash the pain of her on others?

Siri is way behind. I'm not an amazon fan boy, but Alexa is pretty impressive, especially when compared to Siri.

Siri is not much better than this - least not regarding accuracy.

 

[Ion-X]

Siri is way behind. I'm not an amazon fan boy, but Alexa is pretty impressive, especially when compared to Siri.

Alexa is more competent than Siri but that’s like saying a Model A is faster than a Model T. It’s not saying a whole lot.

ChatGPT is an entire generation ahead of Alexa.

 

[oofio2461]

Hope they will catch up to GPT.

 

[tagsaid]

Oh good, now it can disappoint me in crystal clear language. Exciting times for apple!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Hope they will catch up to GPT.

When ChatGPT meets Siri.

 

[orbital~debris]

Unless and until there exists MacOS versions of the various streaming platform apps.....

So in the UK im talking about iPlayer, ITVX, Prime Video, Disney+....... etc etc etc...

Then the TV app on MacOS is severely limited and useless in that form as the up next list cannot and does not fully sync to the MacOS app....

For me the up next function is the main reason I use the TV app daily - and yet I steer clear of it on the Mac as its pointless withouth that synced content and integration.

If macOS apps aren’t something that will appear anytime soon, Apple should allow users to sign-in to those TV platforms from inside the TV app on macOS to allow shows to be tracked/displayed in Up Next on the Mac.

On the other hand, since all of those apps already exist for iPadOS, I’d hope Apple would nudge the platforms to enable their apps to appear in the Mac App Store.

 

[ignatius345]

Siri actually used to work quite well on Apple TV (and only on Apple TV) because when invoked from the home screen it seemed to be limited to searching only for the titles of movies and TV shows.

Then, a few months ago I noticed it started also returning results for Apple Music, which is literally never what I want to see when using Apple TV. Really lame move.

 

[LeadingHeat]

Doesn’t the HomePod run tvOS? Could this be a smart home buff?

 

[clg82]

Doesn't matter Siri is still miserable to use, "Hey Siri, what time is my alarm set for" "I see one alarm set, the alarm is set for 0530am, the alarm is currently on." How many times must she answer with the word alarm, alexa is quick and too the point, "Your 0530 am alarm is on". Siri is absolutely miserable to use, alarm turns on "hey siri stop my alarm" "waiting....waiting....waiting....I'm having a hard time stopping your alarm, alarm turns off"......siri is abysmal

 

[evertjr]

I think Apple have the resources to replicate the Bing AI functionality into Siri, it would be pretty awesome since Siri already have the best and most natural sounding voice. But I'm sure they'll attempt some form of on device processing to leverage their silicon and limit it to newer devices.

 

[lysingur]

Apple has squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead in virtual assistance vis-à-vis Google and Amazon. They have the most integrated ecosystem in tech, but just let it rot by adding superfluous features iteration after iteration.

Siri can't even program a HomeKit device to turn on for a period of time. After close to a decade since HomeKit was introduced and more than a decade for Siri, one would think this should go without saying.

Based on the article yesterday, its cumbersome code is most likely the reason for its deplorable voice recognition and its inability to accommodate multilingual households.

I would honestly consider switching if the gap in AI continues to widen between macOS/iOS and its competitors. Its impact on my productivity is starting to add up.

 

[Jason2000]

Siri is way behind. I'm not an amazon fan boy, but Alexa is pretty impressive, especially when compared to Siri.

The last head to head I saw between Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri and Bixby Siri came in 2nd with Google Assistant being first. The only thing Siri was not able to keep up with was conversational stuff. Everything else she did just fine so not sure how its way behind.

 

[lysingur]

I think Apple have the resources to replicate the Bing AI functionality into Siri, it would be pretty awesome since Siri already have the best and most natural sounding voice. But I'm sure they'll attempt some form of on device processing to leverage their silicon and limit it to newer devices.

Rewriting something as deeply integrated into Apple's ecosystem as Siri without breaking major functionalities across its major OSes requires the kind of resolve and organizational competence from Cook that I don't think he has.

The only major success that Apple has implemented when it comes to integration since Cook took over is Apple Silicon. On the software side, it has stagnated. This tells me that nobody is home when it comes to overseeing the general direction where macOS/iOS/iPadOS should be going. What should really be Cook's job is delegated to Craig Federighi, who never seems to be comfortable being the big-picture guy at Apple.

The two most powerful figures at Apple, Tim Cook and Jeff Williams, have little background in software. Don't hold your breath hoping for a major leap in Siri's capabilities as long as these two are calling the shots at Apple.

 

[chfilm]

No natural language model in the world can fix the problems with the way how Siri works… they have to rewrite the whole thing based on some LLM..