Siri on HomePod Correctly Answered 52.3% of Queries in New AI Test

[jarman92]

“Apple's goal is to make Siri a ubiquitous, ambient presence that connects and controls all your connected devices and services - and to make a leap forward in the transition to voice-first computing.”

As recently as a year ago, I would have agreed with this; now I’m not so sure. Apple seems to be totally oblivious to Siri’s shortcomings and refuses to expand its capabilities. I was 100% convinced they would announce something big alongside HomePod and we got...a new voice. That I think is actually worse than the old one. Still cannot understand context, still cannot answer basic questions, still cannot control music/podcast apps...it’s really unbelievable.

 

[Texas26257]

I occasionally try Siri to see if there has been any improvements but have found it totally useless across all my devices, a HomePod with a screen that could access my local library easily would be a must buy, a HomePod that could never play the song I want because it can’t find it is a waste of money

Not sure why so much trouble I have called out songs, playlist, new request, timers, measurement conversions and news all day no problems at all. Mind you from a different room. I’m trying to figure out why every one has such problems.
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Sorry to hear that.

My HomePod set itself up transferring AppleID and WiFi info/passwords/etc automatically from my iPhone in about a minute. I was stunned how easy setup was.

Mine set up just as easy for the original guy start over and have your phone close

 

[Jaywalk3r]

Google maps is smart enough to provide different answers based on traffic between home and a destination.

To be fair, within the last two weeks, in a large US city, Google Maps (on my iPhone SE) placed me "at my destination" while I was still 2.1 miles away (according to Apple Maps) from the address I entered. I had to get a Lyft to make my appointment on time. Google Maps is not as reliable as some believe.

 

[LovingTeddy]

The game isn’t over. Truthfully, all AI is still basically crap.

Google’s DeepMind’s Alpha Go beats world top Go Player. It tells you something. Apple is very far behind AI... You can’t even see Apple in the rare end mirror

 

[ikramerica]

So long as it can play/stop/skip music that's the end of the smart technology I would want. I don't care that others answer questions better, I wouldn't use it for that.

Yep. Is there a way to turn Siri off and just use it for airplay?

 

[marmotte]

DO NOT BUY the HomePod. I have been a long-time apple users. Just got an HomePod today., After an hour still have not figured out how to make it work. It forced me into 2 factor authentication which I absolutely did not want. So far nothing is working. Absolutely useless.

 

[Baymowe335]

Google’s DeepMind’s Alpha Go beats world top Go Player. It tells you something. Apple is very far behind AI... You can’t even see Apple in the rare end mirror

Rear view mirror?

So because Alpha Go beats the world’s top player, it’s game over?

 

[Solomani]

I measure the success of any purchase by the price / years of use.
There's nothing in the Home Pod that can't be improved upon over the next year or so that requires new hardware.
In that respect the Home Pod is a clear success. The software, and AI, are fixable.
Can you say the same about the other smart speakers?

So true. And this comparison is comparing a Version 1.0 HomePod with mature rivals that have been around for a few years. There is certainly room for Apple to improve HomePod in the later versions. I'm sure that the very first Amazon Echo model ever released was also a disappointment.

 

[Mtmspa]

Siri does what I need for music and home automation, so these reviews and complaints mean nothing to me.

 

[falainber]

Siri does what I need for music and home automation, so these reviews and complaints mean nothing to me.

Some people somehow manage to always align their needs with Apple product limitations perfectly.

 

[The Game 161]

Some people somehow manage to always align their needs with Apple product limitations perfectly.

People buy products based off their needs.

If people buy this for sound and basic tasks thats what they are happy with.

Just maybe plenty don't care about asking voice assistants questions that really aren't needed.

 

[Mayostudent]

The HP offers 7.1 stereo, in a single cabinet. The seven tweeters, plus one woofer, provide multichannel sound in a single package. While the HomePod is capable of working in pairs (when Airplay 2 is released), that in no way implies that the sound from a single HomePod is not stereophonic.

Um. Ok

 

[dampfnudel]

Siri is Apple's biggest failure. They have had years to make it at least 80% functional and have failed to do so. Just like the ATV, it seems to be just a "hobby" for Apple.

Yeah, it’s like Apple can’t get the right engineers or something. It’s been like ages since I got my 4S in 2011 with this new feature called Siri and it’s still in last place 7 years later. Tim should light a fire under the Siri development team, lure in the right people or do whatever it takes because now Siri’s deficiencies are even more glaring because it plays a more pivotal role as a “smart” speaker. The Apple Watch was without a doubt the superior smart watch compared to the competition. Can’t say that with the HomePod. Well, at least it sounds good and there’s always the hope that Siri will at least match the competition someday.

 

[AppleScruff1]

I just tried the above two commands with my HomePod. Both worked perfectly the first time.


EDIT: And just tried the above a few more times. Worked fine each time.

Of course it did. Must be the beamformimg.

 

[citysnaps]

Of course it did. Must be the beamformimg.

Yes, that certainly plays a major role. HomePod's six microphone array and advanced signal processing effectively steer a narrow reception beam onto a user's location, isolating user commands while nulling out potential interfering noise sources.

 

[MDF314159265]

DO NOT BUY the HomePod. I have been a long-time apple users. Just got an HomePod today., After an hour still have not figured out how to make it work. It forced me into 2 factor authentication which I absolutely did not want. So far nothing is working. Absolutely useless.

User error. Took <2 minutes from plug-in for me.
Just ‘cause you can’t figure it out, everyone else should boycott?

Some people somehow manage to always align their needs with Apple product limitations perfectly.

Or some people just have much more satisfied and simplistic lives.

Yeah, it’s like Apple can’t get the right engineers or something. It’s been like ages since I got my 4S in 2011 with this new feature called Siri and it’s still in last place 7 years later. Tim should light a fire under the Siri development team, lure in the right people or do whatever it takes because now Siri’s deficiencies are even more glaring because it plays a more pivotal role as a “smart” speaker. The Apple Watch was without a doubt the superior smart watch compared to the competition. Can’t say that with the HomePod. Well, at least it sounds good and there’s always the hope that Siri will at least match the competition someday.

What would you do to improve Siri?
Honest question. Not trolling. I really want to know.
This is the only thing I’d want to see Siri do, that it doesn’t do today: control TV.

 

[44267547]

And Siri is at the bottom of the pile. Maybe Siri would be adequate for some lower level company, but for Apple? Please. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Again, everybody’s experience will vary. I judge my experience based on my own personal uses, not some chart telling me otherwise. I don’t share your frustrations. Others might.
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Of course it did. Must be the beamformimg.

Genuinely curious if you actually understand what beamforming means or is this is a way for you to interject snark given your ill-sighted response?

Edit: Appears Citysnaps explained what beamforming means perfectly to you in post #190.

 

[naturalstar]

Wow, Siri is dumb. I already knew this, but wow.

 

[citysnaps]

Some people somehow manage to always align their needs with Apple product limitations perfectly.

And some people will intentionally twist and discount what another honestly and succinctly reports, in order to promote their agenda.

 

[HylianKnight]

Correct me if I am wrong but the capabilities of Siri is limited by Apple’s stance regarding privacy. Personally, I’m fine with that.

 

[mrochester]

But that's a good thing is not it? Do you prefer a somewhat relevant (to you) ads to the random ones? It's not like you can get rid of them.

Targeted ads are much much worse than non-tagetted. I want to see NO advertising.

 

[Cloudkicker]

That's pretty damn pathetic...

Q: "Is water wet?"

A: "I have a 52.3% certainty water is wet."

 

[dazz87]

52.3%.......Im shocked i thought it wouldve score lower.

 

[Cloudkicker]

So HomePod isn't very good at navigation? Maybe that has something to do with the non detachable power cable and lack of batteries? What good would it be to ask a HomePod questions about navigation? You can't take the HomePod with you in your car.

Really????

"Hey, Google, how far is it to the Las Vegas Strip?"

"Based on your approximate location, the Las Vegas Strip is [xxxx] miles from you."

vs.

"Hey, Siri, how far is to the Las Vegas Strip?"

"Beats the s**t out of me. You aren't in your car, so what's it to you, buddy?!"

Pathetic. The shortcomings those in the ecosystem will accept just because a product is made for it.

 

[Delgibbons]

Siri: "I can't answer that query.... But let me give you a pointless joke instead or just give you a list of web search results"



Even Bixby is better. And even Samsung admitted that was utterly crap when it launched