Apple's Delayed Personalized Siri Features Are 'Working' to Some Extent

[PaladinGuy]

The plain fact is: Apple lied.

They showed something as "working" when it was nowhere near "production ready." The demos at WWDC were faked. The commercial for the feature was faked. Frankly, they should have never made the commercial until the feature achieved Beta status.

They lied to sell product. There's no other answer. And, Apple should be held accountable for it.

And those who say nobody bought the iPhone 16 for AI must think Apple wasn’t looking for any ROI for its marketing costs. Those ads were not for brand awareness. They were to sell products. Don’t tell Apple’s marketing department that their ads had nothing to do with any sales.

 

[Chungry]

Imagine how livid must Cook be. "Works to some extent? We didn't increase the base RAM to some extent!!"

You just know they wouldn't have taken that hit if this was gonna be delayed sooner. Cook would never have allowed extra RAM for people to do whatever with. No, that RAM is for AI only. I wouldn't be shocked if they disabled or put a ceiling on it to bring it down to 8GB in a future update until the AI stuff is released because they are that petty and user hostile

 

[Rollinpebble]

Apple was very Late to the AI game and under Shareholder pressure they are trying to catch up.

Speaking of... Deepseek was very late to the AI game, and they shook the stock market. The difference I think is that Deepseek showed off a general use chatbot, and to an extent proved that the cost of running these model can come way down.
By contrast Apple showcased a concrete use case that everybody was looking forward to, but has yet to prove that it can be implemented seamlessly. Thing is, nobody else has won the personal context game yet. And in general, people talking about AI don't acknowledge their limitations in how they understand the state of the technology.

 

[switz]

Wondering why iPhone 16 moved to 8GB of ram? Because of AI, but next year it will probably be 12GB of ram and the following year 16GB of ram to actually use AI. That is three model years of iPhone Pro Max 15, 16, 17, and then 18 that were all supposedly AI ready. But in the reality, we shall find that model 18 with 16GB is needed to actually run AI so lots of false promise upselling opportunity could have existed....

Apple did make 16GB the new minimum amount of memory in all new computer products because AI needs that much to work today. How soon will 32Gb and then 64GB be needed for AI?

Should the Apple flag perhaps exhibit a large pile of barn yard dairy cow muck to possibly reflect their adverting?

 

[Chungry]

Friendly reminder that ATP had an Apple software engineer write in and say that basically the company doesn't incentivize fixing bugs, long-standing and otherwise. Now combine with the leak of the all-hands meeting saying they are delaying announced AI features because of the iOS 19 road map (likely what's set to be announced in June). Combine that with spending over a billion every year for over a decade on a car project that suffered through multiple restarts and a lack of clear leadership- left to languish in project management hell until the company realized what the rest of the world seemingly knew all along: cars are a zero sum game in terms of margins. So they squandered time and human capital for a decade. Leaving Siri, a known quantity, to whither. Who is in charge? How is this happening?
Did their failure with the car compel them to release the AVP before it was ready to try and capture value and overcome the sunk cost.
You are here.

 

[montuori]

To put it into perspective it’s 9 months later & it only works about 70% of the time
Now if your going off that logic then in June it most have only worked about 10 to 20% so then that says they pushed ahead showing something that never worked properly in the first place.
Yet again certain people are blindly defending this nonsense instead of acknowledging that Apple has made a mistake

That assumes linear development. It sure seems like LLMs are "easy" for the first X% and exceedingly difficult for the remaining 100-X%. (In a different thread I referenced the 90-90 rule; I'm guessing it applies here.) ChatGPT and its ilk only work well less than 100% of the time.

They were maybe a little ambitious announcing the feature but damn, it's not really all that different than any other software development project. It's less about "defending this nonsense" and simply acknowledging that there were snags and perhaps a some overconfidence. If we fired every optimistic developer (and middle manager, executive, and marketer) we wouldn't have software at all.

 

[Stuwil]

That assumes linear development. It sure seems like LLMs are "easy" for the first X% and exceedingly difficult for the remaining 100-X%. (In a different thread I referenced the 90-90 rule; I'm guessing it applies here.) ChatGPT and its ilk only work well less than 100% of the time.

They were maybe a little ambitious announcing the feature but damn, it's not really all that different than any other software development project. It's less about "defending this nonsense" and simply acknowledging that there were snags and perhaps a some overconfidence. If we fired every optimistic developer (and middle manager, executive, and marketer) we wouldn't have software at all.

Again your missing the point for example nobody is saying that Apple shouldn’t announce software at wwdc for the year ahead
However it has came to light that it was a concept video & the software wasn’t working properly at the time & someone from above pushed for it to get included & went ahead with an advertisement for it & that’s the issue.
Where as if they worked on it in the background until they got it working better then put out a press release then nobody would have a problem then

 

[switz]

The Lockheed U2 and SR-71 spy/survelliance aircraft were never talked about until folks saw them in the sky (they were usually flown out at night for that reason to not be seen).

Apple was close lipped in the past until a product was ready for prime time. Thus no discolored fan blades for too early release.

 

[Manzanito]

Wondering why iPhone 16 moved to 8GB of ram? Because of AI, but next year it will probably be 12GB of ram and the following year 16GB of ram to actually use AI. That is three model years of iPhone Pro Max 15, 16, 17, and then 18 that were all supposedly AI ready. But in the reality, we shall find that model 18 with 16GB is needed to actually run AI so lots of false promise upselling opportunity could have existed....

Apple did make 16GB the new minimum amount of memory in all new computer products because AI needs that much to work today. How soon will 32Gb and then 64GB be needed for AI?

Should the Apple flag perhaps exhibit a large pile of barn yard dairy cow muck to possibly reflect their adverting?

Too bad AI doesn't require more than 256 gigs of ssd as well.

 

[throAU]

Working 80% would be an improvement.

 

[Stuwil]

Working 80% would be an improvement.

Do you know what if they kept it under wraps & then announced it in a press release & said this is our new Siri but it’s only about 80% & we are releasing this in beta to developers then there would be no issue because people would accept it.

 

[Chungry]

Do you know what if they kept it under wraps & then announced it in a press release & said this is our new Siri but it’s only about 80% & we are releasing this in beta to developers then there would be no issue because people would accept it.

Setting expectations is important

 

[Stuwil]

Setting expectations is important

Also announcing unrealistic expectations for software features within a year is also important

 

[switz]

Back in the day, tweaking the code to fix problem A sometimes created problems B and C. The ripple effect could often affect many other programs in that grouping.

Remember the joys of all nighters trying to squash what at first glance a simple issue.

 

[Chungry]

Back in the day, tweaking the code to fix problem A sometimes created problems B and C. The ripple effect could often affect many other programs in that grouping.

Remember the joys of all nighters trying to squash what at first glance a simple issue.

Would be cool if Apple had some AI features built into Xcode to help with that. Wait...

 

[Itinj24]

Yes have a downvote for recency bias. Apple’s software has been buggy for years before the pandemic. With some of their largest issues happening before WFH.

You’re either very young or new to Apple so can get a pass for naivety.

Nah, it’s gotten much worse since. I don’t need a pass from you. I see from experience. You must not own anything other than an iPhone wi the Siri tuned off.

 

[DownUnderDan]

What compensation will Apple provide to those of us who upgraded a serviceable older iPhone to gain this iOS 18 AI capability?

This delay seems like bait and switch.

Here you go, I asked ChatGPT for you on my iPhone 13:

Strategic Consumer Decision-Making: Prioritizing Delivered Value Over Future Commitments

In today’s fast-paced consumer technology landscape, proactive purchasing decisions must be driven by tangible, in-market deliverables rather than speculative feature roadmaps. Organizations frequently employ forward-looking statements to generate excitement and drive early adoption; however, consumers should focus on realized value rather than aspirational feature sets.


Key Considerations for Value-Driven Purchasing:

1. Operational Readiness Over Projected Capabilities

• Consumers should assess current-state functionality rather than investing based on anticipated enhancements that may face executional delays or feasibility challenges.

2. Risk Mitigation in Feature Deployment

• Promised functionalities are often contingent on regulatory approvals, software stability, and R&D breakthroughs. As a best practice, purchasing decisions should be anchored in proven performance metrics rather than speculative timelines.

3. Agility in Consumer Strategy

• Brands leverage future-oriented messaging to maintain competitive positioning, but customers must adopt an agile procurement approach, ensuring their purchases align with present operational effectiveness rather than theoretical innovations.

4. Accountability in Product Lifecycle Management

• Delayed or undelivered features are often relegated to low-priority development cycles or phased-out initiatives. By focusing on what is fully deployed and operational, consumers ensure a value-aligned return on investment (ROI).

5. Expectation Management and Due Diligence

• A fact-based decision-making framework requires consumers to distinguish between marketing commitments and functional realities. Evaluating product reviews, hands-on demonstrations, and real-world performance ensures alignment between purchase decisions and actual deliverables.



Conclusion: Drive Value by Investing in Today’s Capabilities

To maximize consumer ROI and user experience, purchases should be dictated by features currently available and optimized for performance. Organizations may pivot, adjust, or entirely abandon feature commitments based on internal priorities. By buying for today and not for tomorrow, consumers retain control over their technology adoption strategy and avoid unnecessary dependencies on unrealized potential.


Would your procurement strategy benefit from a shift toward immediate, outcome-driven purchasing decisions? 🚀

 

[Chungry]

Here you go, I asked ChatGPT for you on my iPhone 13:

Strategic Consumer Decision-Making: Prioritizing Delivered Value Over Future Commitments

In today’s fast-paced consumer technology landscape, proactive purchasing decisions must be driven by tangible, in-market deliverables rather than speculative feature roadmaps. Organizations frequently employ forward-looking statements to generate excitement and drive early adoption; however, consumers should focus on realized value rather than aspirational feature sets.


Key Considerations for Value-Driven Purchasing:

1. Operational Readiness Over Projected Capabilities

• Consumers should assess current-state functionality rather than investing based on anticipated enhancements that may face executional delays or feasibility challenges.

2. Risk Mitigation in Feature Deployment

• Promised functionalities are often contingent on regulatory approvals, software stability, and R&D breakthroughs. As a best practice, purchasing decisions should be anchored in proven performance metrics rather than speculative timelines.

3. Agility in Consumer Strategy

• Brands leverage future-oriented messaging to maintain competitive positioning, but customers must adopt an agile procurement approach, ensuring their purchases align with present operational effectiveness rather than theoretical innovations.

4. Accountability in Product Lifecycle Management

• Delayed or undelivered features are often relegated to low-priority development cycles or phased-out initiatives. By focusing on what is fully deployed and operational, consumers ensure a value-aligned return on investment (ROI).

5. Expectation Management and Due Diligence

• A fact-based decision-making framework requires consumers to distinguish between marketing commitments and functional realities. Evaluating product reviews, hands-on demonstrations, and real-world performance ensures alignment between purchase decisions and actual deliverables.



Conclusion: Drive Value by Investing in Today’s Capabilities

To maximize consumer ROI and user experience, purchases should be dictated by features currently available and optimized for performance. Organizations may pivot, adjust, or entirely abandon feature commitments based on internal priorities. By buying for today and not for tomorrow, consumers retain control over their technology adoption strategy and avoid unnecessary dependencies on unrealized potential.


Would your procurement strategy benefit from a shift toward immediate, outcome-driven purchasing decisions? 🚀

Imagine trying this with Siri:
"Here are directions to Big Wolf lodge"

 

[DownUnderDan]

Just how many years and how many billions of dollars did Apple expend on the Car project under Tim's guidance?

There never has been the margins like Apple wants in the auto industry since day one of the industry. My family's business was as an automotive parts factory making fans, viscous fan drives, superchargers and turbochargers. Folks making small parts are giving quotes out to four decimal places to the right of the dot.

The Goggles were a sales flop after the "early gotta have it crowd" were satiated. Inventory is decaying in the bilge tanks of Apple inventory.... The crowd creating the goggle operating system could have been more effectively working and fixing Siri along with the huge backlog of known Mac OS issues going back years and still not fixed.

Steve said to aim for where the puck is going. I wonder if Tim has even showed up at the arena let alone got into the game?

Maybe instead of jet setting all over the world, he should be in office kicking backsides and firing those that are not producing positive results.

AI did not just show up in January 2024, it has been around for much longer and a CEO's job is to be aware of what is happening in the industry and get research started of the viability of this new technology to see where or if it applies to Apple's products. Apple was caught complexly flat footed and had NO response or ability to respond to the AI barrage.

He knew SIRI was and is the albatross around Apple's neck ever since it came out. Not withstanding the lip service about SIRI, we the customers have not seen minor let alone major improvements after over a dozen years.

The Apple foundation is starting to show some serious cracks and massive remediation of the core parts is necessary. That includes getting all the employees motivated to do their best, not just enough to get a marginally passing performance review.

Apple under invests in its R&D. Tim is great at shareholder value and has increased the stock price of Apple way above anyone before him including Steve, but sometimes you get caught out when you do stuff on the cheap. This has nothing to do with the mythical lazy worker.

 

[Chungry]

Apple under invests in its R&D. Tim is great at shareholder value and has increased the stock price of Apple way above anyone before him including Steve, but sometimes you get caught out when you do stuff on the cheap. This has nothing to do with the mythical lazy worker.

Over a decade and tens of billions on that car...

 

[halo9]

The wording by Apple seems to indicate that the updates will happen sometime between April 2025 and March 2026, i.e. "in the coming year" which could also be rephrased as "in the coming 12 months."

Correct, though it can also be interpreted as this year is 2025 and “in the coming year” it will be 2026. This would make the window January 2026 to December 2026, meaning IOS 19 or an early build of IOS 20 would be possible and Apple has not lied. I think the choice of ambiguous wording was a deliberate move to “open up” their delivery window. Sly…. But clever.

 

[halo9]

My best friends sisters boyfriends uncle told him his work mate was shown some of the new Siri features working some of the time…… Yep verified, let’s publish that 🤣

 

[Chungry]

My best friends sisters boyfriends uncle told him his work mate was shown some of the new Siri features working some of the time…… Yep verified, let’s publish that 🤣

So much truth here. I will say on this occasion I think it was a controlled leak to manage expectations

 

[maxoakland]

I know, right. The amount of hyperbole and hubris over a delay is astounding.

You're purposely misrepresenting what people are mad about because you have some kind of misplaced loyalty to a corporation.

People are mad and concerned because Apple demoed vaporware instead of working software. That's something Apple is famous for not doing and it's a huge breach of user trust

 

[platinumaqua]

“The only winning move is not to play.”

Honestly, they would’ve been fine if they publicly came out and said they’re not going to do AI and explain it the usual Apple way, but they had FOMO and now we have this.