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Should Apple Kill Siri and Start Over?
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I rarely use Siri - basically I've gotten used to it being unhelpful generally, as if I ask it something even slightly complex, it gives me a "this is what I found on the web" list. Yuk
But - I do use it occasionally in the car, via CarPlay, really only to read out messages, dictate responses and call people. For which I think it's actually really good.
So what I think we'll end up with, is a "local assistant" - like Siri now, that works on your phone without going to the cloud. But also something akin to ChatGPT et al which can respond to random questions (via the cloud).
Apple might combine these, but they are very keen to push their privacy credentials, which would be easier if they were separate.
I do agree with the majority of comments; Siri is just not very powerful. Interacting with ChatGPT is interesting as it basically has a reply for every question - of course with the caveat that some responses are not factually correct! Whereas I would never consider experimenting this way with Siri, it'd just keep giving me lists of websites.
Based on their recent brandings, I'm going to bet it's called: Siri+ or maybe SiriPro (but you still activate it with "Siri").
But - I do use it occasionally in the car, via CarPlay, really only to read out messages, dictate responses and call people. For which I think it's actually really good.
So what I think we'll end up with, is a "local assistant" - like Siri now, that works on your phone without going to the cloud. But also something akin to ChatGPT et al which can respond to random questions (via the cloud).
Apple might combine these, but they are very keen to push their privacy credentials, which would be easier if they were separate.
I do agree with the majority of comments; Siri is just not very powerful. Interacting with ChatGPT is interesting as it basically has a reply for every question - of course with the caveat that some responses are not factually correct! Whereas I would never consider experimenting this way with Siri, it'd just keep giving me lists of websites.
Based on their recent brandings, I'm going to bet it's called: Siri+ or maybe SiriPro (but you still activate it with "Siri").
Ah... Siri... the first thing I disable completely whenever I get apple device ❤️😂
I would first be happy with dead on balls accurate voice transcription as inputs to a virtual assistant which cannot do what you want correctly if misunderstood, and as keyboard inputs for texting, translation, etc. Voice input transcription accuracy in my experience is terrible. It also needs a method for correction to train the input functions when it gets it wrong for continuous personalized improvement and the correction method needs to be available consistently where ever voice input is enabled. E.g. in the translation app, after input when it is wrong, there is no way to edit the transcription for correction.
Similar story here. I've been working in telecom and tech since the late '90s, including speech recognition. Great living but not something I get excited about. Tech is just a tool for me.
It’s not just that Siri as a brand that’s been tarnished. The whole BS talk on “machine learning” has been tarnished. Siri doesn’t learn absolutely anything. I use youtube music exclusively and every time I ask Siri to play a song I have to specify “on youtube music” otherwise it defaults to Apple Music. For which I don’t have a subscription.
Of course this defaulting to Apple services without giving you the option to even manually change it to another provider is cause for antitrust.
Of course this defaulting to Apple services without giving you the option to even manually change it to another provider is cause for antitrust.
Siri is far from the only thing that sucks. If Jobs was here, he’d be firing people all over the place.
Hey Siri, should you be killed?
I found this on the web about kilts.
I found this on the web about kilts.
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I can count on one hand the number of times I've used Siri. I can set a timer or a reminder in seconds. Does Siri really make it more convenient? I haven't found any compelling uses for it.
That said, I have no problem with improving Siri so that it can be more useful, but even then I'm not sure that I will be using it.
I find Siri utterly useless, just like Spotlight. Neither of them provide any benefit to me, I blame Star Trek for vastly underestimating how annoying talking computers are.
I also don't understand why people on podcasts are so paranoid about saying "Siri." The few times i have tried to use it I pretty much have to scream "Hey Siri!" five or six times to get it to repsond. Using a normal tone of voice never works.
I also don't understand why people on podcasts are so paranoid about saying "Siri." The few times i have tried to use it I pretty much have to scream "Hey Siri!" five or six times to get it to repsond. Using a normal tone of voice never works.
Siri is the main reason I do not use an iPhone. I use voice commands in my car with android and that part of the android experience is fantastic.
Siri continues to work fine with my limited usage, but I have noticed the decline in reliability in some cases.
Her knowledge has grown tremendously, but her ability to perform tasks has been tarnished.
It's ironic. People don't appreciate how complex this technology is, and how well it has truly worked, given the factors involved. People want more-more-more, but then complain when bumps in the road are disruptive.
Siri will evolve and improve. I'm sure of that.
Her knowledge has grown tremendously, but her ability to perform tasks has been tarnished.
It's ironic. People don't appreciate how complex this technology is, and how well it has truly worked, given the factors involved. People want more-more-more, but then complain when bumps in the road are disruptive.
Siri will evolve and improve. I'm sure of that.
Siri has probably ruined my chances of ever successfully interacting with and routinely using a digital assistant. It's so bad, I'm developmentally disabled now.
Have the commentariat considered why Apple haven’t bothered to update Siri yet? With their billions of R&D it would be pretty easy.
What Apple have access to is unlimited amounts of user data which will tell them exactly what people are asking it.
And I’d bet good money that the majority of customers, ie those not on Twitter or an internet forum only use it for time-related exercises and playing music. If 99% of your users barely use something, is it worth the R&D costs to add even more things only 1% have any use for?
What Apple have access to is unlimited amounts of user data which will tell them exactly what people are asking it.
And I’d bet good money that the majority of customers, ie those not on Twitter or an internet forum only use it for time-related exercises and playing music. If 99% of your users barely use something, is it worth the R&D costs to add even more things only 1% have any use for?
Siri is Justin Long in Idiocracy: What I'd do, is just like... like... you know, like, you know what I mean, like...
It seems clear to me that Apple intends to turn Siri on 24/7 in the distance future on devices that can perform requests locally. If your data stays with you and the device can distinguish between different speakers while understanding the context of the moment it processes language (i.e. Apple TV is currently playing a movie) then the user experience would be improved. In that scenario there is no more need for the trigger word, Siri.
In addition any family devices could correlate a family member’s voice with a custom output voice (perhaps their own?). This could provide assurance that requests similar to “add a doctors appointment to my calendar” are attached to the correct person.
I can imagine a few ways where there could still be issues, but I think cameras could provide additional context to prevent them. The need for cameras requires a local LLM capable of understanding near real-time video input alongside language, and that’s why I say “distant future” above
In addition any family devices could correlate a family member’s voice with a custom output voice (perhaps their own?). This could provide assurance that requests similar to “add a doctors appointment to my calendar” are attached to the correct person.
I can imagine a few ways where there could still be issues, but I think cameras could provide additional context to prevent them. The need for cameras requires a local LLM capable of understanding near real-time video input alongside language, and that’s why I say “distant future” above
Then explain the existence of the HomePod. Or Siri. If Apple doesn't rush stuff to market, how did we end up in this mess with a worse than useless "AI" and hardware that's 100% dependent on it?
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I think the easiest win Apple could do with Siri would actually be to just make it so we could disable commands/responses. Never say "Sorry, I didn't understand" aloud. Never say "I found this on the web". Let me disable both of those and that would eliminate 100% of false activations for me. That would help me forget about how incredibly bad Siri is and how much she butts into conversations that nobody wanted her in.*
As is, I'm often tempted to just disable Siri entirely. The sole feature I appreciate with Siri is the ability to set timers when my hands are full/dirty (IE, I'm cooking and need to set a timer while putting something in the oven, or if I need to start a timer for how long I should let a stain remover sit for while I'm doing laundry.) That one feature is why I haven't just disabled Siri entirely. Honestly, if I did, maybe the old voice system that I think iOS falls back on when Siri isn't available might work way better.
*Really, false activations are a whole viral/social issue - they embarrass the person for having a device with Siri, and everybody in earshot remembers how terrible Siri is.
This is the core issue for me. I never wanted to interact with my computer with my voice. I don't hate Siri, but really don't use it at all.
Whether it's Siri, Alexa, or something else, I don't want a virtual assistant.
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