Apple is reportedly set to announce significant AI upgrades for Siri at WWDC 2024.
Apple is expected to unveil substantial AI enhancements for Siri at WWDC 2024.
Apple’s native virtual assistant Siri is reported to be the focal point of the company’s AI strategy, which could be unveiled during the keynote session of the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) on Monday. Earlier, it was suggested that Siri’s focus would be on enhancing its intelligence and efficiency in handling complex tasks. A recent report has now detailed the new AI features Siri might receive, including the ability to control various native Apple apps and execute actions based on the user’s verbal commands.
Siri to get new AI capabilities
According to a report by AppleInsider, a key focus for the Cupertino-based tech giant is to enable Siri to understand commands in a more natural, conversational manner. The report, citing sources familiar with Apple’s AI initiative, claims that Siri is being trained on a variety of indirect prompts that rely on contextual understanding. For example, instead of directly asking Siri to “show pictures of my dog,” users could say “I’m feeling nostalgic” or “I want to make a blog,” which would also prompt Siri to show pictures and ask for further instructions.
This is just the beginning, as the report indicates a broader range of AI features. Several native Apple apps are also expected to be upgraded, allowing Siri to perform various tasks within them. These apps include Books, Calendar, Camera, Contacts, Files, Freeform, Generative Playground (internal), Keynote, Mail, Magnifier, News, Notes, Photos, Reminders, Safari, Stocks, System Settings, and Voice Memos.
Siri’s AI features in Apple Books
With the AI upgrade, Siri will reportedly be capable of performing several new tasks within the Books app. The virtual assistant is expected to open a specific book or its section with just a voice prompt. It could also open “the book I last read,” change book themes, flip pages, pause audiobooks, and more. Additionally, users will reportedly be able to search for specific categories in the Book Store and display finished books, downloaded books, and PDF documents when prompted.
Siri’s AI features in Camera and Mail apps
Using the Camera app could become easier with Siri’s reported new AI capabilities. The assistant might be able to change photography modes, set a timer, and switch between the front-facing and rear cameras. It remains unclear whether Siri will also be able to take a picture when prompted, which would help users capture group photos.
Additionally, a report last week suggested that Siri might get a Smart Replies feature, allowing users to quickly respond to emails. The new report claims that Siri will also be able to schedule email replies, forward emails, undo sent emails, save and delete drafts, block senders, mark emails as junk, unsubscribe from newsletters, summarize emails or threads, and mute and delete emails.
Siri’s AI features in Keynote and Photos app
The Keynote app serves as the preferred presentation platform for numerous Apple device users. With the reported improvements to Siri, users may be able to automate specific tasks. Allegedly, the virtual assistant will have the capability to add images, image galleries, audio, video, text boxes, or comments to slides through simple voice commands.
According to the report, Siri is also said to be capable of displaying a particular slide, applying a theme to a new presentation, generating slides, initiating and pausing a presentation, displaying the Activity Stream, incorporating YouTube videos, and managing various text formatting options.
Regarding the Photos app, it is claimed in the report that Siri will have the ability to access photos featuring specific individuals or pets, search for objects within photos, add photos to albums, duplicate, rotate, and relocate photos, hide selected photos, open and create new memories, apply filters, open photos and videos in editing mode, and more.
Additionally, previous reports have indicated that Siri could potentially provide transcriptions for notes within the Notes app, create reminders in the Reminders app, and read and summarize articles in the Safari browser. It’s worth noting that Apple has not officially announced these features, and whether they will be integrated into Apple’s virtual assistant will only be revealed at WWDC 2024.
