Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Is SIRI a metaphor for the state of Apple in 2017?

prizm

prizm

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 29, 2007
146
143
It all seemed so hopeful in late 2011. So many fabulous things happened at Apple in the years running up to the release of SIRI. SIRI was a marvel that seemed to have amazing potential. And then all the "gee-whiz" Apple magic just seemed to crater. Touch ID was nice, but everything else in the lineup - neglected.

Here we are in 2017 and SIRI is still a bit of a nincompoop. Yes, it has gotten marginally better, but no where near Google A.I. And yes, there are reasons for this...but still.

Should Apple just kill Siri outright, pay off Google and piggy back on to their service? It would end my, and many others endless frustration dealing with Siri.
 
prizm said:
It all seemed so hopeful in late 2011. So many fabulous things happened at Apple in the years running up to the release of SIRI. SIRI was a marvel that seemed to have amazing potential. And then all the "gee-whiz" Apple magic just seemed to crater. Touch ID was nice, but everything else in the lineup - neglected.

Here we are in 2017 and SIRI is still a bit of a nincompoop. Yes, it has gotten marginally better, but no where near Google A.I. And yes, there are reasons for this...but still.

Should Apple just kill Siri outright, pay off Google and piggy back on to their service? It would end my, and many others endless frustration dealing with Siri.
Click to expand...

Strange how every time I've seen people actually test the two they are about even, and in my own usage Siri is better. I think this is a case of the grass always being greener blah blah blah
 
  • Like
Reactions: Zirel and Jayderek
redbeard331 said:
Strange how every time I've seen people actually test the two they are about even, and in my own usage Siri is better. I think this is a case of the grass always being greener blah blah blah
Click to expand...
I disagree. I think most unbiased reviews show that Siri is behind. I dont use it anymore because she messes up a lot. Might be the way I talk.

Also. I'm not sure if this is a Siri specific issue or google as well. But if i was to use Siri in a natural way I want to just say "hey Siri do this for me" not "hey Siri...*beep beep* do this for me". I'm guessing that is in the future of all AI but I can't seem to get the hang of it yet.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Will22
I did my own comparison between the Assitant app on the iPhone and Siri. They both performed the exact same and did everything I wanted them to do. In fact they both understood what I was saying and showed the same information. Siri understood a little better actually when asking about specific sports score.

The problem is that everyone has different needs, and speak differently. So it's hard to compare the two because of how different people are.
 
anon08 said:
But if i was to use Siri in a natural way I want to just say "hey Siri do this for me" not "hey Siri...*beep beep* do this for me". I'm guessing that is in the future of all AI but I can't seem to get the hang of it yet.
Click to expand...

What do you mean by this? Hey Siri can take a request immediately. I always say "Hey Siri turn on the kitchen lights" with no pause. It will only beep if you give Siri the opportunity to. At least on my iPad Pro.
 
  • Like
Reactions: aristobrat
I am okay with the way Siri works for me (on my Apple Watch), and I am generally satisfied with my Apple devices thus far.

I guess I agree with you that Siri is analogous with the state of Apple in that they both work for me, but probably not in the manner you intended.
 
I don't see how some people say it's bad. I can't compare to google since I've never used it.

But I'll use Siri for sports scores, weather, replying to texts, finding nearby places and the time they close. It works fine and it always understands me.
 
EM2013 said:
I don't see how some people say it's bad. I can't compare to google since I've never used it.

But I'll use Siri for sports scores, weather, replying to texts, finding nearby places and the time they close. It works fine and it always understands me.
Click to expand...


Try asking Google a question. The results are jaw dropping. It nails the answer almost every time. It can really find the answers almost immediately and read them back to you without a pause or a hiccup.
 
I've used both and and also Cortana. Siri is okay 50% of the time. I'm sure i would think it was okay if I had not of used the others.

After using the others Siri is a bit like a Mattel learning toy for 2 year olds.

Try the difference between them in CarPlay and the gap is even bigger.
 
Let's see, here's my last interaction with Siri:
"Hey Siri, when do the Rockies play next?"
...
"Hey Siri."
...
"HEY SIRI!!!"
...
"Seriously, WTF?"
"Sorry, I don't understand WTF."

Seems like a good metaphor if you ask me. People are screaming at Apple exactly what they want. Updates to pro hardware that can actually be used by pros, consumer laptops that don't treat users like they're children with learning disabilities, and innovative products that solve problems that users actually have.

Instead we get an Apple that is either completely unresponsive, or gives us solutions in search of a problem. The HomePod is the absolute epitome of everything that's wrong with Apple.
 
prizm said:
Should Apple just kill Siri outright, pay off Google and piggy back on to their service? It would end my, and many others endless frustration dealing with Siri.
Click to expand...

Siri is getting better.. But the reason why it seems it isn't because is only focusing of sport scores etc for Sii to know more about.... I mean "Big woop"..... sport scores are good,,, but not every one needs to know this. while neglecting more common everyday stuff.. Google just knows about/

Just gives the impression Siri sucks..
 
Will22 said:
I've used both and and also Cortana. Siri is okay 50% of the time. I'm sure i would think it was okay if I had not of used the others.

After using the others Siri is a bit like a Mattel learning toy for 2 year olds.

Try the difference between them in CarPlay and the gap is even bigger.
Click to expand...

What exactly does Cortana does that makes it so good?
 
Siri is pretty terrible. My MIL was trying to search for something in the passenger seat. I was driving, and my Windows phone with Cortana was able to find and call the location before she was able to get Siri to understand her. That's disregarding the fact that once she did get it to work, it pulled up the wrong location.
 
If Siri could understand multiple languages in a sentence that'd be absolutely spot on, but I rather let it slowly progress whilst respecting my privacy.

Another advancement should be a more natural (machine learning?) conversation follow up, like "Play my romantic ballads playlist, shuffled, but play the ones in Spanish first".
 
"Siri is pretty terrible", say the Apple haters while chugging buyers remorse.

Well, accoroding to the latest studies, Apple and Venmo, Siri is used twice as much as Google Assistant in the U.S.

Explain that, considering that Android even has a noticeable larger user base.

Siri is what it’s possible. It’s not a real person in the other side, duh.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back