Gurman: Apple Working On Revamped Siri Experience That Doesn't Require 'Hey Siri' Trigger Phrase

[MacRumors]

Apple is working on an updated Siri experience that moves away from the "Hey Siri" trigger phrase currently required to invoke the digital voice assistant hands-free, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports.

In his latest "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that Apple is working on a way for Siri to be able to understand phrases and commands without the need to use "Hey Siri," simply saying "Siri" instead. Gurman added that the change is expected to roll out sometime in 2023 or 2024.

The company is working on an initiative to drop the "Hey in the trigger phrase so that a user only needs to say "Siri"—along with a command. While that might seem like a small change, making the switch is a technical challenge that requires a significant amount of AI training and underlying engineering work.

The complexity involves Siri being able to understand the singular phrase "Siri" in multiple different accents and dialects. Having two words—"Hey Siri"—increases the likelihood of the system properly picking up the signal.

Gurman also today reported that Apple is working to further integrate Siri into third-party services and apps to provide more context and assistance to users.

Article Link: Gurman: Apple Working On Revamped Siri Experience That Doesn't Require 'Hey Siri' Trigger Phrase

 

[nt5672]

Why not just scrap Siri and start over. Apple ignored Siri for like 5 years after introduction. Everyone else has moved on to something that works. Changing "Hey Siri" is not going to fix it.

 

[1557750]

Just $8 a month to drop the “hey”.

 

[vagos]

Good. Siri needs all the improvements it can get. Lots of us use it daily and it's not on par with our expectations.

 

[dsaponaro]

This is great! I’ll soon be able to get the wrong answers to my inquiries even easier!

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Honestly, Siri needs more work then “Hey Siri”.

 

[Sirious]

Should be relatively easy, especially since on Apple Watch you don't even need a wake word for it!

 

[Schizoid]

Why not keep “Hey Siri” and fix the rest of it?

 

[Sciomar]

Any improvement to Siri is welcomed, as long as it doesn't break her!

 

[dantracht]

Any change or improvement to Siri is more than welcome.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Maybe Apple will change “Hey Siri” to “Hi Siri” OMG 😵‍💫.

All jokes aside, I think Siri will play a huge part in Apple’s upcoming AR/VR Apple headset. I can see myself playing certain commands and Siri will get the job done. It will be the biggest factor.

 

[markfc]

Time to dump Siri. Absolutely useless and so far behind. Can’t wait for them to be forced to open up the OS so you can replace the built in assistant with a 3rd party.

 

[Populus]

Calling Siri without a trigger phrase? This is gonna be fun

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

Siri will soon be able to read the ads out to you

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

Nice, looking forward to this! Go Apple! Go Siri!

 

[Paddle1]

To be honest this sounds like it'll increase accidental activations.

 

[Ashbash75]

Apples fixes bugger all. Just more dung on the pile.

I live in the UK. WTF are shades? we have curtains and/or blinds. It drives the misses potty when siri says "closing the shades"

 

[macmac30]

I have a family that primarily uses iPhones and iPads. It’s not uncommon for there to be several iPhones and iPads in the kitchen and family room area during the hour leading up to dinner while we cook. We also have two paired OG HomePods that serve this area. It’s become laughable how useless Siri is when we want to listen to music, change the volume, add something to the shopping list, etc. And it keeps getting worse over time. It would at least be bearable if we saw improvement. We will ask SirI to play music and instead of music starting on the HomePods, an iPad starts playing. We will get music going on the HomePods and then ask Siri to change the volume and one of the iPads will blurt out “Media will play softer from now on” but the volume on the HomePods is unchanged. We will ask again, and a different iPad will respond. I have tried turning off Siri on the iPads but that causes Shortcuts that I have created to not work when spoken to the HomePods. It’s as if Apple engineers have created this huge tangled mess that even they can’t figure out. It’s almost comical, but I’m not laughing Apple. The only FEMALE in the ENTIRE house of 3 people will ask Siri to do something and Siri constantly asks her “Who’s speaking?” Apple, please get your act together. And I am totally open to suggestions to tame this beast. I’m about to throw kitchen knives at Siri when I cook!

 

[Kylo83]

They need to re do siri it’s so bad for me; my HomePods always say the wrong things

 

[cknibbs]

In the future, as AI and robotics evolve, there will be an all out robotic war where Alexa, Google and Siri hash it out until the last robot is left standing.

🤣

 

[ersan191]

There are a thousand ways they could be improving Siri, removing the "hey Siri" trigger should be last on the list...

 

[BanjoDudeAhoy]

I’m for “Oi, listen here you!”
Alternatively, “Oi, Siri mate!”

 

[Le0M]

Honestly, I'm gonna be satisfied with Siri only when it'll reach Google Lamda's level of intelligence.

 

[Edsel]

Have argued with Siri so many times, I think we need a divorce....

 

[MrRom92]

Actual exchange I had last night:

Me: “Hey Siri, turn off the fan in 15 minutes”

HomePod: “I’m sorry, you must set automations at least one minute in advance”

Me: “Hey Siri, turn off the fan in 15 minutes”

HomePod: “I’m sorry, you must set automations at least one minute in advance”

Me: “Hey Siri, turn off the fan in 15 minutes”

HomePod: “I’m sorry, I’m not sure who’s speaking. Who is this?”

Me: “David”


HomePod: “I’m sorry, you must set automations at least one minute in advance”


Me: “Hey Siri, just turn off the fan”

Siri: “okay”