As part of its iOS 18 updates arriving this fall, Apple will launch its new Apple Intelligence AI service. The latest Power On weekly newsletter from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reveals significant upgrades for Apple’s Siri voice assistant, which debuted in 2012. These updates will include a new user interface design and integration with OpenAI’s ChatGPT chatbot.
Gurman reports that the major Siri updates will arrive in 2025. These updates will enable Siri to access Apple’s iOS apps more directly. For example, users can ask Siri AI to edit a photo and send it to a friend. Siri will also gain the ability to understand what users are viewing on their displays, enhancing its contextual understanding.
Need to wait until January 2025
However, users must wait a bit longer for these advanced features. Gurman notes that a beta version will launch for iOS developers in January 2025. The full public release will come with the iOS 18.4 update in spring 2025.
Apple is not alone in this AI race. Amazon is also upgrading its Alexa voice assistant, which launched in 2014. In September 2023, Amazon demonstrated an advanced version of Alexa capable of accessing an AI Large Language Model (LLM). Recent reports suggest that Amazon may launch the AI-enhanced Alexa this September. The company might charge between $5 to $10 monthly for access to the AI-based Alexa.
With the Vocal Shortcuts feature available in the beta version of iOS 18, you can personalize Siri by defining a special name!
So far, Apple has not indicated if it will charge for its AI-enhanced Siri.
These updates signify a transformative era for voice assistants. Both Apple and Amazon are pushing the boundaries of AI integration. As users anticipate these advancements, the competition between tech giants continues to drive innovation.
