HomePod Why doesn't Apple just drop the 'Hey' in "Hey Siri"?

[Caliber26]

Seeing how other smart assistants have a one-word wake command, why doesn't Apple simplify it to just "Siri"? I suppose the "hey" doesn't bother me as much but, as a Spanish-speaking person, I loathe saying "Oye Siri" because that's a word we almost never use. The English equivalent to that would be having to say "Yo Siri". I'm sure this would annoy quite a few English-speaking people. So, why do we need another word before Siri?

 

[mnsportsgeek]

We need a word before Siri to reduce the amount of unintended activations. It's the same reason you have to say "OK Google."

 

[Juicy Box]

I wish the phase could be changed to a user specific choice of word(s), like it used to be for Mac voice commands.

But, for the reason it is not just "Siri", I am pretty sure this is the only reason:

We need a word before Siri to reduce the amount of unintended activations.

 

[ouimetnick]

I wish the phase could be changed to a user specific choice of word(s), like it used to be for Mac voice commands.

But, for the reason it is not just "Siri", I am pretty sure this is the only reason:

Apple still could give the user a choice. I think Alexa users can say ”Alexa” or “Amazon”

 

[Caliber26]

Apple still could give the user a choice. I think Alexa users can say ”Alexa” or “Amazon”

Yeah, that’s what made me wonder why others can but not Apple. It’s not like we have very many words that a device could mistake for “Siri”. But

We need a word before Siri to reduce the amount of unintended activations. It's the same reason you have to say "OK Google."

Now look at Amazon’s Echo. The default wake word is Alexa, and you can even change it to other words of your choice, such as Echo, Amazon, or Computer.

I feel Siri is a unique enough word where it shouldn’t be triggering a lot of unintended activations. I can’t think of many words or phrases — in English or Spanish — that would be a constant problem.

 

[mnsportsgeek]

Yeah, that’s what made me wonder why others can but not Apple. It’s not like we have very many words that a device could mistake for “Siri”. But

Now look at Amazon’s Echo. The default wake word is Alexa, and you can even change it to other words of your choice, such as Echo, Amazon, or Computer.

I feel Siri is a unique enough word where it shouldn’t be triggering a lot of unintended activations. I can’t think of many words or phrases — in English or Spanish — that would be a constant problem.

I often here people reference Siri with no intention of activating it. Same with Alexa. It's annoying. I can't imagine anyone using "Amazon" or "Computer." That thing would be listening all day (as if it isn't already lol).

 

[Tagbert]

Yeah, that’s what made me wonder why others can but not Apple. It’s not like we have very many words that a device could mistake for “Siri”. But

Now look at Amazon’s Echo. The default wake word is Alexa, and you can even change it to other words of your choice, such as Echo, Amazon, or Computer.

I feel Siri is a unique enough word where it shouldn’t be triggering a lot of unintended activations. I can’t think of many words or phrases — in English or Spanish — that would be a constant problem.

Can you use arbitrary trigger phrases for Amazon or is it just the short list of predefined phrases?

I'd like an option to use different trigger phrases for Siri on my HomePod, iPhone and maybe Watch. If they are all enabled, you never know which one will respond (usually the HomePod) but they all can't do the same things. I have to turn off Siri for most devices for this reason. It's another question why the various Siris don't all have the same ability.

 

[subjonas]

Hey + Siri is understandable as a default to prevent unwanted triggers, but the extra syllable does get tiresome when you are doing multiple commands/queries in succession. It would be nice to be able to customize it to just Siri or another unique word of a user’s choosing.
But even more alleviating would be if Siri understood when a conversation started and stopped, eliminating the need to use the trigger word except at the beginning of each conversation.

It would also be nice to be able to customize a unique trigger word per device.

 

[Caliber26]

Hey + Siri is understandable as a default to prevent unwanted triggers, but the extra syllable does get tiresome when you are doing multiple commands/queries in succession. It would be nice to be able to customize it to just Siri or another unique word of a user’s choosing.
But even more alleviating would be if Siri understood when a conversation started and stopped, eliminating the need to use the trigger word except at the beginning of each conversation.

It would also be nice to be able to customize a unique trigger word per device.

In my case, I can't see myself triggering Siri very often. There just aren't that many words that even sound like Siri for this to be a serious issue.

And the Echo does allow have that slight advantage of letting the user assign different wake words. I have some that are in close range of each other so I set them up to respond to different words that way I don't have all of them responding at the same time.

 

[subjonas]

In my case, I can't see myself triggering Siri very often. There just aren't that many words that even sound like Siri for this to be a serious issue.

And the Echo does allow have that slight advantage of letting the user assign different wake words. I have some that are in close range of each other so I set them up to respond to different words that way I don't have all of them responding at the same time.

Well, the word you used “serious” has Siri in it lol. There’s also “cereal”.
But I think the bigger issue is when you are purposely saying Siri without wanting to trigger it. Maybe the main situation Apple wants to prevent is say you live with someone and you say something to them about Siri, eg. “Siri isn’t working” “use the Siri shortcut” “can Siri control the lights outside?” Etc.

 

[EuroChilli]

In my case, I can't see myself triggering Siri very often. There just aren't that many words that even sound like Siri for this to be a serious issue.

And the Echo does allow have that slight advantage of letting the user assign different wake words. I have some that are in close range of each other so I set them up to respond to different words that way I don't have all of them responding at the same time.

I was wondering about this. The other day I asked Siri to do something on my laptop, but my phone which was on the coffee table did it instead. So Apple, how do we address specific devices?

 

[WeatherWeasel]

Sometimes on the TV, something comes a cross and Siri answers the tv. I think it is kind of funny. I wish it would do better than say it is going to send whatever I am querying to my phone. I wish more devices were tied into the homepod , I see google and alexia but not home .

 

[Tagbert]

I was wondering about this. The other day I asked Siri to do something on my laptop, but my phone which was on the coffee table did it instead. So Apple, how do we address specific devices?

Exactly. Imagine what it would be like if you also have “Hey Siri” enabled for your watch and you have a HomePod. They would all compete to answer you but they all can’t do the same tasks. My HomePod will respond before my phone even when the HomePod is in another room with the door closed. I have to whisper or press a button on the phone to tell it to do something that the HomePod can’t do.

I’d like to name my devices and use that to direct queries to them. Failing that, we should at least be able to call out “Hey iPhone” to direct the request.

 

[Slartibart]

Exactly. Imagine what it would be like if you also have “Hey Siri” enabled for your watch and you have a HomePod. They would all compete to answer you but they all can’t do the same tasks. My HomePod will respond before my phone even when the HomePod is in another room with the door closed. I have to whisper or press a button on the phone to tell it to do something that the HomePod can’t do.

I’d like to name my devices and use that to direct queries to them. Failing that, we should at least be able to call out “Hey iPhone” to direct the request.

Here is how it currently works.

 

[Tagbert]

Here is how it currently works.

thanks, but that doesn’t really help. They aren’t providing a solution. Their suggestion for making sure a particular device, like a phone, responds it to pick it up and wake it. If I’m using Siri, I’m probably going for hands-free. Kind of defeats that purpose.

 

[Af1682]

May not work for everyone but if you have an Apple Watch then why not just use that for commands instead of HomePod?

Far easier and don’t even have to say hey Siri, just lift hand. It also avoids the problem of activating other devices.

Ps I had Alexa and there were times when it would activate because someone said Alexa in passing. However, it wasn’t often enough to be a problem or offset the benefit of having an easier trigger word.