Recently, Apple confirmed that Apple’s Generative AI features are coming later this year. Additionally, iOS 18 will introduce a smarter “Siri 2.0,” largely powered by AI capabilities. I’m eagerly awaiting to see how Siri 2.0 will leverage Generative AI. I frequently use Siri on my iPhone in my daily routine, and I believe there’s immense potential for Apple to impress its users. With major players already leading the way, it’s crucial for Apple to accelerate its efforts and reach new heights. While we’re still a few months away from learning about the AI features, I’ve compiled a list of five features I hope to see in the new Siri. Here’s a sneak peek into my Siri 2.0 wishlist!
1. Natural and Better Interactions
Let’s be honest. Siri is a useful voice assistant that understands and executes commands, but its responses can feel a bit robotic. It also struggles to maintain conversation context for seamless interactions. I’m really hoping Siri 2.0 addresses these issues. I expect the next generation of Siri to deliver more human-like responses and create content similar to ChatGPT and other AI chatbots.
Recent AI-driven chat tools can make you believe you’re interacting with a human, not a computer program. They can answer questions, suggest ideas, and perform various tasks. Google Gemini (formerly Bard) and Microsoft Copilot are prime examples. These AI chatbots can generate content, help with writing emails, business plans, blog posts, bedtime stories, and even assist coders by writing or explaining code snippets.
Currently, I use Siri for setting alarms, sending messages, and reading web articles. However, Gemini and Copilot have already set a high standard in this field. With Siri 2.0, I hope Apple can match or even surpass them to create something truly miraculous.
I hope Siri 2.0 introduces useful features like auto-summarization and auto-completion for popular messaging and productivity apps. For example, Siri could summarize long news articles or research papers for me. It should also be able to auto-complete sentences as I write, understanding context and offering predictions to save time.
During meetings, I often take notes that I need to share with my team. Currently, I have to rewrite these notes in a clean format for sharing over Slack or email. I wish the new Siri could simplify this process. If I take a photo of my handwritten notes, Siri could create a recap email based on them. Additionally, it would be great if Siri could generate captions for my vacation photos, as I struggle with captions. I hope Siri 2.0 can understand images and generate content based on them.
I’m not expecting Siri 2.0 to do the impossible. The competition is already offering such features. It’s 2024, and I believe it’s time for a smarter “smart assistant” on my $1,000 iPhone. For now, I’ll continue using Gemini AI on my iPhone.
2. Automate Complex Tasks
One of the features I’m most excited about for Siri 2.0 is the ability to automate complex tasks. Currently, if I want to automate a task on my iPhone, I have to use the Shortcuts app. Whether it’s enabling Low Power Mode or merging photos, Shortcuts is the only first-party option available.
Creating a shortcut involves manually adding actions and running it to perform the automation. I often wonder why Siri can’t do this for me. With Apple’s generative AI on the horizon, I expect Siri 2.0 to take automation to a whole new level.
I hope Apple deeply integrates the smarter Siri into the Shortcuts app, making automation more seamless. This would not only streamline tasks for me but also make it easier for casual users who are not familiar with “shortcuts” and “actions.” I’ve tried convincing my sister and some friends to use the Shortcuts app, but they find it too complex and time-consuming.
Imagine Siri automating complex tasks for you. How amazing would it be to simply tell Siri to combine the last three photos? I hope Apple is listening and will bring this feature to Siri 2.0.
3. Adds a Personality to Conversation
Currently, there are multiple Siri voices and accents available, such as British, Indian, and more, but they all sound robotic. Apple’s iOS 17 introduced Personal Voice, allowing users to train their voices for communication with friends and family. While this feature is useful for those who need it, I personally don’t prefer it as it feels more like an accessibility feature than an immersive experience. In the era of Artificial Intelligence, I believe Siri should be able to emulate personality.
For a more natural and human-like conversation, Siri 2.0 should enable users to customize the tone and personality of the voice. For example, users could choose a quirky, sarcastic, or serious voice for Siri. It would be fun to receive answers in Siri’s true personality. Siri could learn this from personalized voice data provided by users. For instance, if a user trains Siri in Gen Z lingo or a deep elderly voice, Siri should adapt to that tone, accent, and personality in conversations.
Furthermore, Siri could offer different conversation styles that mimic human-like discussions. Similar to Copilot’s conversation styles (Creative, Balanced, Precise), Siri could offer styles tailored to different needs. Users could choose the Creative style for innovative responses, the Balanced style for engaging and informative responses, and the Precise style for straightforward answers. This would add a human touch and personality to conversations, making them more enjoyable. I’m really looking forward to this feature in Siri 2.0.
4. Seamless Connected Experiences
Let’s discuss the highly anticipated Apple ecosystem. I heavily rely on various Apple devices in my daily routine, including my iPhones, MacBook, AirPods, and Apple Watch. While Siri provides a good experience across my Apple devices, I envision a more seamless and integrated experience with the smarter Siri 2.0. Undoubtedly, cross-device functionality is at the heart of Apple’s voice assistant, and I believe Siri 2.0 should enhance this essence.
For instance, I often need to transfer screenshots and images from my iPhone to my Mac for my articles. Currently, I have to enable AirDrop on both devices and manually share the selected images. With Siri 2.0, I expect this process to be smoother. The new version of Apple’s voice assistant should facilitate the transfer of photos from iPhone to Mac without the need to manually enable AirDrop on both devices. This is just one example, but Siri 2.0 has the potential to revolutionize how experiences are connected across Apple devices. It would be a game-changer for users like me whose daily routine involves multiple Apple devices.
5. Expanded Third-party App and Service Support
I’m eager to see improved integration with third-party apps and external services in Siri 2.0. Currently, Siri lags behind competitors like Alexa and Google Assistant in this aspect. While Siri is well-integrated within the Apple ecosystem, working seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and Apple CarPlay, it struggles with external devices and supports only a limited number of third-party apps.
In contrast, Alexa has rapidly evolved and expanded its support for third-party apps and devices. I can easily connect and control any Alexa-compatible home device using my phone, even remotely. This level of flexibility and functionality is not yet available with Siri. Additionally, Alexa is widely available, making it easier to control multiple smart home devices using an Alexa hub, which is not the case with Apple hubs like HomePod or Apple TV, which only support remote control of HomeKit-enabled accessories.
Moreover, Siri offers limited support for third-party services in popular categories like banking and cab booking, focusing mainly on integration with Apple’s native apps. I hope Apple goes beyond its current limits and integrates a wider range of third-party apps and services into Siri 2.0.
These are some of the AI experiences I hope Siri will bring to its iPhone and other Apple devices. What features are you expecting to see in Siri 2.0?
0 Comments