View source for Siri

{{short description|Software-based personal assistant from Apple}}
{{other uses|Siri (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2017}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Siri
| logo = Logo Apple Siri iOS 2024.svg
| logo caption = The Apple Intelligence Siri logo in [[iOS 18]] and [[macOS Sequoia]]
| screenshot = Apple Intelligence Siri (iOS 18.1 Beta 4).png
| screenshot_size = 280px<!--Native resolution but smaller than the standard res-->
| caption = [[Apple Intelligence]]-based Siri running on [[iOS 18]]
| author = Siri Inc.
| developer = [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]
| released = {{start date and age|2011|10|4}}
| operating system = [[iOS 5]] onward, [[macOS Sierra]] onward, [[tvOS]] (all versions), [[watchOS]] (all versions), [[iPadOS]] (all versions), [[visionOS]] (all versions)
| platform = {{plainlist|
* [[iPhone]]
* [[iPad]]
* [[iPod Touch]]
* [[Macintosh|Mac]]
* [[Apple TV]]
* [[Apple Watch]]
* [[HomePod]]
* [[Apple Vision Pro]]
* Some [[Siri#Third_party_devices|third party devices]]}}
| language = {{flatlist|
* [[Arabic language|Arabic]]
* [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: ([[Cantonese]], [[Mandarin Chinese|Mandarin]])
* [[Danish language|Danish]]
* [[Dutch language|Dutch]]
* [[English language|English]]
* [[Finnish language|Finnish]]
* [[French language|French]]
* [[German language|German]]
* [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]]
* [[Italian language|Italian]]
* [[Japanese language|Japanese]]
* [[Korean language|Korean]]
* [[Kannada]]
* [[Telugu language|Telugu]]
* [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
* [[Marathi language|Marathi]]
* [[Malay language|Malay]]
* [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]
* [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]]
* [[Russian language|Russian]]
* [[Spanish language|Spanish]]
* [[Swedish language|Swedish]]
* [[Thai language|Thai]]
* [[Hindi]]
* [[Turkish language|Turkish]]
* [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese(developer beta)]]
}}
| genre = [[Intelligent personal assistant]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.apple.com/siri/}}
}}

'''Siri''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪr|i|audio=LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-Siri.wav}} {{respell|SEER|ee}}, [[backronym]]: Speech Interpretation and Recognition Interface) is a digital assistant purchased, developed, and popularized by [[Apple Inc.]], which is included in the [[iOS]], [[iPadOS]], [[watchOS]], [[macOS]], [[Apple TV]], [[audioOS]], and [[visionOS]] [[operating system]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204389 |title=Use Siri on all your Apple devices |website=support.apple.com |date=November 2023 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gadgets.ndtv.com/apps/news/google-assistant-beats-alexa-siri-again-in-smartphone-iq-test-2087042 |title=Google Assistant beats Alexa, Siri |website=gadgets.ndtv.com |date=August 19, 2019 }}</ref> It uses voice queries, gesture based control, focus-tracking and a [[natural-language user interface]] to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of [[Internet]] services. With continued use, it adapts to users' individual language usages, searches, and preferences, returning individualized results.

Siri is a [[Corporate spin-off|spin-off]] from a project developed by the [[SRI International]] Artificial Intelligence Center. Its [[speech recognition]] engine was provided by [[Nuance Communications]], and it uses advanced [[machine learning]] technologies to function. Its original American, British, and Australian [[voice acting|voice actors]] recorded their respective voices around 2005, unaware of the recordings' eventual usage. Siri was released as an app for iOS in February 2010. Two months later, Apple acquired it and integrated it into the [[iPhone 4s]] at its release on 4 October 2011, removing the separate app from the iOS [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]]. Siri has since been an integral part of Apple's products, having been adapted into other hardware devices including newer [[iPhone]] models, [[iPad]], [[iPod Touch]], [[Macintosh|Mac]], [[AirPods]], [[Apple TV]], [[HomePod]], and [[Apple Vision Pro]].

Siri supports a wide range of user commands, including performing phone actions, checking basic information, scheduling events and reminders, handling device settings, searching the Internet, navigating areas, finding information on entertainment, and being able to engage with iOS-integrated apps. With the release of [[iOS 10]], in 2016, Apple opened up limited third-party access to Siri, including third-party messaging apps, as well as payments, [[ride-sharing]], and [[Voice over IP|Internet calling]] apps. With the release of [[iOS 11]], Apple updated Siri's voice and added support for follow-up questions, language translation, and additional third-party actions.
[[iOS 17]] and [[iPadOS 17]] enabled users to activate Siri by simply saying "Siri", while the previous command, "Hey Siri",  is still supported. Siri was upgraded to using [[Apple Intelligence]] on [[iOS 18]], [[iPadOS 18]], and [[macOS Sequoia]], replacing the logo.

Siri's original release on iPhone 4s in October 2011 received mixed reviews. It received praise for its [[Speech recognition|voice recognition]] and contextual knowledge of user information, including calendar appointments, but was criticized for requiring stiff user commands and having a lack of flexibility. It was also criticized for lacking information on certain nearby places and for its inability to understand certain [[English accents]]. In 2016 and 2017, a number of media reports said that Siri lacked innovation, particularly against new competing voice assistants. The reports concerned Siri's limited set of features, "bad" voice recognition, and undeveloped service integrations as causing trouble for Apple in the field of [[artificial intelligence]] and cloud-based services; the basis for the complaints reportedly due to stifled development, as caused by Apple's prioritization of user [[privacy]] and executive power struggles within the company.<ref name="WSJ innovation" /> Its launch was also overshadowed by the death of [[Steve Jobs]], which occurred one day after the launch.

== Development ==
Siri is a [[spin-out]] from the [[Stanford Research Institute]]'s Artificial Intelligence Center and is an offshoot of the US [[DARPA|Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency]]'s (DARPA)-funded [[CALO]] project.<ref name="HuffPost origins">{{cite news |first=Biance |last=Bosker |title=SIRI RISING: The Inside Story Of Siri's Origins – And Why She Could Overshadow The iPhone |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/siri-do-engine-apple-iphone_n_2499165.html |newspaper=Huffington Post |date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> [[SRI International]] used the NABC Framework to define the value proposition for Siri.<ref>{{cite web |first=Steve |last=Denning |title=How To Create An Innovative Culture: The Extraordinary Case Of SRI |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2015/11/30/how-to-create-an-innovative-culture-the-extraordinary-case-of-sri/?sh=22433bc66ad3 |website=Forbes |date=Nov 30, 2015 |access-date=Jan 29, 2022}}</ref> It was co-founded by Dag Kittlaus, [[Tom Gruber]], and [[Adam Cheyer]].<ref name="HuffPost origins" /> Kittlaus named Siri after a co-worker in [[Norway]]; [[Siri (given name)|the name]] is a short form of the name [[Sigrid]], from [[Old Norse language|Old Norse]] ''Sigríðr'', composed of the elements ''sigr'' "victory" and ''fríðr'' "beautiful".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.networkworld.com/article/2221246/steve-jobs-wasn-t-a-fan-of-the-siri-name.html|title=Steve Jobs wasn't a fan of the Siri name|last=Heisler|first=Yoni|date=2012-03-28|website=Network World|language=en|access-date=2019-10-05}}</ref>

Siri's [[speech recognition]] engine was provided by [[Nuance Communications]], a speech technology company.<ref name="Nuance confirmed">{{cite web |first=Kevin |last=Bostic |title=Nuance confirms its voice technology is behind Apple's Siri |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/05/30/nuance-confirms-its-technology-is-behind-apples-siri |website=AppleInsider |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> Neither Apple nor Nuance acknowledged this for years,<ref>{{cite web |first=MG |last=Siegler |title=Siri, Do You Use Nuance Technology? Siri: I'm Sorry, I Can't Answer That. |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/05/apple-siri-nuance/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=October 5, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Roger |last=Kay |title=Behind Apple's Siri Lies Nuance's Speech Recognition |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/rogerkay/2014/03/24/behind-apples-siri-lies-nuances-speech-recognition/ |website=[[Forbes]] |date=March 24, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> until Nuance CEO Paul Ricci confirmed it at a 2013 technology conference.<ref name="Nuance confirmed" /> The speech recognition system uses sophisticated [[machine learning]] techniques, including [[convolutional neural network]]s and [[long short-term memory]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Levy |first=Steven |date=August 24, 2016 |title=The iBrain Is Here—and It's Already Inside Your Phone |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/08/an-exclusive-look-at-how-ai-and-machine-learning-work-at-apple/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623205924/https://www.wired.com/2016/08/an-exclusive-look-at-how-ai-and-machine-learning-work-at-apple/ |url-status=live |archive-date=June 23, 2017 |access-date=23 Jun 2017 |magazine=Wired}}</ref>

The initial Siri prototype was implemented using the Active platform, a joint project between the Artificial Intelligence Center of [[SRI International]] and the Vrai Group at [[Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne]]. The Active platform was the focus of a Ph.D. thesis led by [[Didier Guzzoni]], who joined Siri as its chief scientist.<ref>{{Cite thesis |url=https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/114758 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604060137/https://infoscience.epfl.ch/record/114758 |title=Active: a unified platform for building intelligent applications |last=Guzzoni |first=Didier |date=2008 |publisher=Lausanne, EPFL |doi=10.5075/epfl-thesis-3990 |access-date=June 4, 2018 |archive-date=June 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Siri was acquired by Apple Inc. in April 2010 under the direction of Steve Jobs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/parmyolson/2011/10/06/steve-jobs-leaves-a-legacy-in-a-i-with-siri/|title=Steve Jobs Leaves A Legacy In A.I. With Siri|last=Olson|first=Parmy|website=Forbes|language=en|access-date=2019-10-05}}</ref> Apple's first notion of a digital personal assistant appeared in a 1987 concept video, [[Knowledge Navigator]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Kelly |last=Hodgkins |title=Apple's Knowledge Navigator, Siri and the iPhone 4S |url=https://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/apples-knowledge-navigator-siri-and-the-iphone-4s/ |website=[[Engadget]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=October 5, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Adam |last=Rosen |title=Apple Knowledge Navigator Video from 1987 Predicts Siri, iPad and More |url=http://www.cultofmac.com/120716/apple-knowledge-navigator-video-from-1987-predicts-siri-ipad-and-more/ |website=Cult of Mac |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

== Apple Intelligence ==
{{Main|Apple Intelligence}}Siri has been updated with enhanced capabilities made possible by Apple Intelligence. In [[macOS Sequoia]], [[iOS 18]], and [[iPadOS 18]], Siri features an updated user interface, improved natural language processing, and the option to interact via text by double tapping the home bar without enabling the feature in the Accessibility menu on iOS and iPadOS. According to Apple: it adds the ability for Siri to use the context of device activities to make conversations more natural; Siri can give users device support and will have larger app support via the Siri App Intents API; Siri will be able to deliver intelligence that's tailored to the user and their on-device information using personal context. For example, a user can say, "When is Mom's flight landing?" and Siri will find the flight details and try to cross-reference them with real-time flight tracking to give an arrival time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Introducing Apple Intelligence for iPhone, iPad, and Mac |url=https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/06/introducing-apple-intelligence-for-iphone-ipad-and-mac/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Apple Newsroom |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple Intelligence Preview |url=https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/ |access-date=2024-06-14 |website=Apple |language=en-US}}</ref> For more day to day interactions with Apple devices, Siri will now summarize messages (on more apps than just Messages, such as Discord and Slack). According to users{{Who|date=May 2025}}, this feature can be helpful but can also be inappropriate in certain situations.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} 

== Voices ==
The original American voice of Siri was recorded in July 2005 by [[Susan Bennett]], who was unaware it would eventually be used for the voice assistant.<ref name="McKee 2017">{{cite book |last=McKee |first=Heidi |title=Professional Communication and Network Interaction: A Rhetorical and Ethical Approach |series=Routledge Studies in Rhetoric and Communication |publisher=Taylor and Francis |publication-place=London |year=2017 |isbn=978-1-351-77077-4 |oclc=990411615 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wv8nDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA167 |access-date=1 December 2018 |page=167 |quote=Siri's voices were recorded in 2005 by a company who then licensed the voices to Apple for use in Siri. The three main voices of Siri at original launch were Karen Jacobson (in Australia), Susan Bennett (in the United States), and Jon Briggs ...}}</ref><ref name="Original voice">{{cite web |first=Jessica |last=Ravitz |title='I'm the original voice of Siri' |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/04/tech/mobile/bennett-siri-iphone-voice |website=[[CNN]] |date=October 15, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> A report from ''[[The Verge]]'' in September 2013 about voice actors, their work, and machine learning developments, hinted that Allison Dufty was the voice behind Siri,<ref>{{cite web |first=Lessley |last=Anderson |title=Machine language: how Siri found its voice |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/17/4596374/machine-language-how-siri-found-its-voice |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=September 17, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Angela |last=Tafoya |title=Siri, Unveiled! Meet The REAL Woman Behind The Voice |url=http://www.refinery29.com/2013/09/54029/iphone-siri-voice-alison-dufty |website=[[Refinery29]] |date=September 23, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> but this was disproven when Dufty wrote on her website that she was "absolutely, positively ''not'' the voice of Siri."<ref name="Original voice" /> Citing growing pressure, Bennett revealed her role as Siri in October, and her claim was confirmed by Ed Primeau, an American [[audio forensics]] expert.<ref name="Original voice" /> Apple has never acknowledged it.<ref name="Original voice" />

The original British male voice was provided by [[Jon Briggs]], a former technology journalist and for 12 years narrated for the hit [[British Broadcasting Company|BBC]] quiz show [[The Weakest Link]].<ref name="McKee 2017" /> After discovering he was Siri's voice by watching television, he first spoke about the role in November 2011. He acknowledged that the voice work was done "five or six years ago", and that he didn't know how the recordings would be used.<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Warman |title=The voice behind Siri breaks his silence |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8879705/The-voice-behind-Siri-breaks-his-silence.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/apple/8879705/The-voice-behind-Siri-breaks-his-silence.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=November 10, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Vlad |last=Savov |title=British voice of Siri only found out about it when he heard himself on TV |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/11/10/2551519/british-voice-of-siri-only-found-out-about-it-when-he-heard-himself |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=November 10, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

The original Australian voice was provided by [[Karen Jacobsen]], a [[voice-over]] artist known in Australia as the ''[[GPS]] girl''.<ref name="McKee 2017" /><ref name="Guardian voices">{{cite news |first=Hannah Jane |last=Parkinson |title=Hey, Siri! Meet the real people behind Apple's voice-activated assistant |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/aug/12/siri-real-voices-apple-ios-assistant-jon-briggs-susan-bennett-karen-jacobsen |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=August 12, 2015 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

In an interview between all three voice actors and ''[[The Guardian]]'', Briggs said that "the original system was recorded for a US company called Scansoft, who were then bought by Nuance. Apple simply licensed it."<ref name="Guardian voices" />

For [[iOS 11]], Apple auditioned hundreds of candidates to find new female voices, then recorded several hours of speech, including different personalities and expressions, to build a new [[Speech synthesis|text-to-speech]] voice based on [[deep learning]] technology.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Kahn |title=Apple engineers share behind-the-scenes evolution of Siri & more on Apple Machine Learning Journal |url=https://9to5mac.com/2017/08/23/evolution-siri-machine-learning-journal/ |website=9to5Mac |date=August 23, 2017 |access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref> In February 2022, Apple added Quinn, its first gender-neutral voice as a fifth user option, to the iOS 15.4 developer release.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fried |first=Ina |date=2022-02-23 |title=Apple gives Siri a less gendered voice |url=https://www.axios.com/apple-gives-siri-less-gendered-voice-d4b2ab56-67c9-4728-b195-8bc14d163672.html |access-date=2022-02-26 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref>

== Integration ==
Siri released as a [[software|stand-alone application]] for the iOS operating system in February 2010, and at the time, the developers were also intending to release Siri for [[Android (operating system)|Android]] and [[BlackBerry OS|BlackBerry]] devices.<ref>{{cite web |first=Erick |last=Schonfeld |title=Siri's IPhone App Puts A Personal Assistant in Your Pocket |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/02/04/siri-iphone-personal-assistant/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=February 4, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> Two months later, Apple acquired Siri.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jenna |last=Wortham |title=Apple Buys a Start-Up for Its Voice Technology |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/29/technology/29apple.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 29, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Katie |last=Marsal |title=Apple acquires Siri, developer of personal assistant app for iPhone |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/10/04/28/apple_acquires_siri_developer_of_personal_assistant_app_for_iphone |website=AppleInsider |date=April 28, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Leena |last=Rao |title=Confirmed: Apple Buys Virtual Personal Assistant Startup Siri |url=https://techcrunch.com/2010/04/28/apple-buys-virtual-personal-assistant-startup-siri/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=April 28, 2010 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> On October 4, 2011, Apple introduced the [[iPhone 4S]] with a [[beta version]] of Siri.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jordan |last=Golson |title=Siri Voice Recognition Arrives On the iPhone 4S |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2011/10/04/siri-voice-recognition-arrives-on-the-iphone-4s/ |website=[[MacRumors]] |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Velazco |title=Apple Reveals Siri Voice Interface: The "Intelligent Assistant" Only For iPhone 4S |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/apple-reveals-siri-voice-interface-the-intelligent-assistant/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> After the announcement, Apple removed the existing standalone Siri app from [[App Store (iOS)|App Store]].<ref name="TechCrunch app removal" /> ''[[TechCrunch]]'' wrote that, though the Siri app supports [[iPhone 4]], its removal from App Store might also have had a financial aspect for the company, in providing an incentive for customers to upgrade devices.<ref name="TechCrunch app removal">{{cite web |first=Greg |last=Kumparak |title=The Original Siri App Gets Pulled From The App Store, Servers To Be Killed |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/04/the-original-siri-app-gets-pulled-from-the-app-store-servers-killed/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=October 4, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> Third-party developer Steven Troughton-Smith, however, managed to [[Porting|port]] Siri to iPhone 4, though without being able to communicate with Apple's servers.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Gurman |title=Siri voice command system ported from iPhone 4S to iPhone 4 (video) |url=https://9to5mac.com/2011/10/14/siri-voice-command-system-ported-from-iphone-4s-to-iphone-4-video/ |website=9to5Mac |date=October 14, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> A few days later, Troughton-Smith, working with an anonymous person nicknamed "Chpwn", managed to fully hack Siri, enabling its full functionalities on iPhone 4 and [[iPod Touch]] devices.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Gurman |title=Siri hacked to fully run on the iPhone 4 and iPod touch, iPhone 4S vs iPhone 4 Siri showdown video (interview) |url=https://9to5mac.com/2011/10/29/siri-hacked-to-fully-run-on-the-iphone-4-and-ipod-touch-iphone-4s-vs-iphone-4-siri-showdown-video-interview/ |website=9to5Mac |date=October 29, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> Additionally, developers were also able to successfully create and distribute legal ports of Siri to any device capable of running iOS 5, though a [[proxy server]] was required for Apple server interaction.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarah |last=Perez |title=Spire: A New Legal Siri Port For Any iOS 5 Device |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/12/27/spire-a-new-legal-siri-port-for-any-ios-5-device/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=December 27, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Apple tv gen 4 remote.jpeg|thumb|[[Siri Remote]] for the [[Apple TV]]]]
Over the years, Apple has expanded the line of officially supported products, including newer iPhone models,<ref>{{cite web |first=Rene |last=Ritchie |title=How to set up 'Hey Siri' on iPhone or iPad |url=https://www.imore.com/how-to-set-up-hey-siri-iphone-ipad |website=iMore |date=March 30, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> as well as iPad support in June 2012,<ref>{{cite web |first=Vlad |last=Savov |title=Siri in iOS 6: iPad support, app launcher, new languages, Eyes Free, Rotten Tomatoes, sports scores, and more |url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/6/11/3077642/siri-update-ios-6 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=June 11, 2012 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> iPod Touch support in September 2012,<ref>{{cite web |first=Lance |last=Whitney |title=The new iPod Touch: A 4-inch screen, and Siri too |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/the-new-ipod-touch-a-4-inch-screen-and-siri-too/ |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=September 12, 2012 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> Apple TV support, and the stand-alone [[Siri Remote]], in September 2015,<ref>{{cite web |first=Husain |last=Sumra |title=Apple Announces New Apple TV With Siri, App Store, New User Interface and Remote |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2015/09/09/apple-announces-fourth-gen-apple-tv/ |website=[[MacRumors]] |date=September 9, 2015 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> Mac and AirPods support in September 2016,<ref>{{cite web |first=Nick |last=Statt |title=Apple to release macOS Sierra on September 20th |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/7/12758218/apple-mac-os-sierra-update-release-date-announced |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=September 7, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Mitchel |last=Broussard |title=Apple Debuts Wireless 'AirPods' With 5 Hours of Music Playback |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2016/09/07/apple-wireless-airpods/ |website=[[MacRumors]] |date=September 7, 2016 |access-date=December 5, 2017}}</ref> and HomePod support in February 2018.<ref>{{cite web |first=Chaim |last=Gartenberg |title=Apple announces HomePod speaker to take on Sonos |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/5/15732144/apple-homepod-speaker-announced-siri-price-release-date-wwdc-2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/23/16922682/apple-homepod-release-date-announced-preorders |title=Apple will release its $349 HomePod speaker on February 9th |work=The Verge |access-date=2018-01-23}}</ref>

=== Third party devices ===
At the 2021 [[Worldwide Developers Conference]], Apple announced that it would make Siri voice integration available in third party devices. Devices must be on the same wireless network as a [[HomePod]] or [[HomePod Mini]] to route requests.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chin |first=Monica |date=2021-06-07 |title=Apple introduces Siri for third-party devices |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/7/22523045/apple-wwdc-siri-third-party-devices-ecobee-watch-tvos-tv |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> In October 2021, the [[Ecobee]] SmartThermostat with Voice Control became the first third-party device with built-in Siri control.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuohy |first=Jennifer Pattison |date=2021-10-12 |title=“Hey Siri, where’s Alexa?” |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/10/12/22720890/siri-voice-control-ecobee-smart-thermostats |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2024, [[Denon]] added Siri control to select soundbars and smart speakers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tuohy |first=Jennifer Pattison |date=2024-05-13 |title=Denon adds Siri to its smart speakers |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/13/24155420/denon-apple-siri-voice-control-smart-speakers |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=The Verge |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Features and options ==
Apple offers a wide range of voice commands to interact with Siri, including, but not limited to:<ref>{{cite web |first1=Sarah Jacobsson |last1=Purewal |first2=Jason |last2=Cipriani |title=The complete list of Siri commands |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/the-complete-list-of-siri-commands/ |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=February 16, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>
* Phone and text actions, such as "Call Sarah", "Read my new messages", "Set the timer for 10 minutes", and "Send email to mom"
* Check basic information, including "What's the weather like today?" and "How many dollars are in a euro?"
* Find basic facts, including "How many people live in France?" and "How tall is Mount Everest?".  Siri usually uses Wikipedia to answer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Voice Assistants Alexa, Bixby, Google Assistant and Siri Rely on Wikipedia and Yelp to Answer Many Common Questions about Brands |date=July 11, 2019 |url=https://voicebot.ai/2019/07/11/voice-assistants-alexa-bixby-google-assistant-and-siri-rely-on-wikipedia-and-yelp-to-answer-many-common-questions-about-brands/ | access-date=October 22, 2021}}</ref>
* Schedule events and reminders, including "Schedule a meeting" and "Remind me to{{Nbsp|1}}..."
* Handle device settings, such as "Take a picture", "Turn off [[Wi-Fi]]", and "Increase the brightness"
* Search the Internet, including "Define{{nbsp}}...", "Find pictures of{{nbsp}}...", and "Search [[Twitter]] for{{nbsp}}..."
* Navigation, including "Take me home", "What's the traffic like on the way home?", and "Find driving directions to{{nbsp}}..."
* Translate words and phrases from English to a few languages, such as "How do I say where is the nearest hotel in French?"
* Entertainment, such as "What basketball games are on today?", "What are some movies playing near me?", and "What's the synopsis of{{nbsp}}...?"
* Engage with iOS-integrated apps, including "Pause [[Apple Music]]" and "Like this song"
* Handle payments through Apple Pay, such as "Apple Pay 25 dollars to Mike for concert tickets" or "Send 41 dollars to Ivana."
* Share [[Estimated time of arrival|ETA]] with others.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-02-22 |title=How to share your driving ETA on iPhone |url=https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/01/21/how-to-share-your-driving-eta-on-iphone |access-date=2024-02-13 |website=AppleInsider |language=en}}</ref>
* Jokes, "Hey Siri, knock knock."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stables |first=James |date=2018-05-14 |title=99 funny things to ask Siri: All the best jokes, pop culture questions and Easter eggs |url=https://www.the-ambient.com/explainers/best-siri-easter-eggs-596/ |access-date=2024-09-28 |website=The Ambient |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Siri also offers numerous pre-programmed responses to amusing questions. Such questions include "What is the meaning of life?" to which Siri may reply "All evidence to date suggests it's chocolate"; "Why am I here?", to which it may reply "I don't know. Frankly, I've wondered that myself"; and "Will you marry me?", to which it may respond with "My [[End-user license agreement|End User Licensing Agreement]] does not cover [[marriage]]. My apologies."<ref>{{cite web |title=What's the Meaning of Life? Ask the iPhone 4S |url=https://www.foxnews.com/tech/whats-the-meaning-of-life-ask-the-iphone-4s/ |website=[[Fox News]] |publisher=[[Fox Entertainment Group]] |date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Karen |last=Haslam |title=Funny things to ask Siri |url=http://www.macworld.co.uk/feature/iphone/funny-things-ask-siri-3656639/ |website=[[Macworld]] |publisher=[[International Data Group]] |date=May 22, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

Initially limited to female voices for most countries where Siri was supported, Apple announced in June 2013 that Siri would feature a gender option, adding a male voice counterpart. Notable exceptions are the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands; those countries were first limited to male voices, then would later get female voice counterparts. <ref>{{cite web |first=Samantha |last=Murphy |title=Siri Gets a Male Voice |url=http://mashable.com/2013/06/10/siri-gets-male-voice/ |website=[[Mashable]] |date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

In September 2014, Apple added the ability for users to speak "Hey Siri" to summon the assistant without needing to hold the device.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jason |last=Cipriani |title=What you need to know about 'Hey, Siri' in iOS 8 |url=https://www.cnet.com/how-to/what-you-need-to-know-about-hey-siri-in-ios-8/ |website=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=September 18, 2014 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

In September 2015, the "Hey Siri" feature was updated to include individualized voice recognition, a presumed effort to prevent non-owner activation.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mitchel |last=Broussard |title=Apple's 'Hey Siri' Feature in iOS 9 Uses Individualized Voice Recognition |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2015/09/11/apples-hey-siri-feature-voice/ |website=[[MacRumors]] |date=September 11, 2015 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Kevin |last=Tofel |title=Apple adds individual voice recognition to "Hey Siri" in iOS 9 |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-adds-individual-voice-recognition-to-hey-siri-in-ios-9/ |website=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |date=September 11, 2015 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

With the announcement of [[iOS 10]] in June 2016, Apple opened up limited third-party developer access to Siri through a dedicated [[application programming interface]] (API). The API restricts the usage of Siri to engaging with third-party messaging apps, payment apps, ride-sharing apps, and Internet calling apps.<ref>{{cite web |first=Husain |last=Sumra |title=Apple Opens Siri to Third-Party Developers With iOS 10 |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2016/06/13/apple-siri-api-third-party-developers/ |website=[[MacRumors]] |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Nathan |last=Olivarez-Giles |title=Apple iOS 10 Opens Up Siri and Messages, Updates Music, Photos and More |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/apple-ios-10-opens-up-siri-and-messages-updates-music-photos-and-more-1465851484 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] |date=June 13, 2016 |access-date=June 10, 2017}} {{subscription required}}</ref>

In iOS 11, Siri is able to handle follow-up questions, supports language translation, and opens up to more third-party actions, including task management.<ref>{{cite web |first=Lucas |last=Matney |title=Siri gets language translation and a more human voice |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/05/siri-gets-voice-translation-and-a-more-human-voice/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Chaim |last=Gartenberg |title=Siri on iOS 11 gets improved speech and can suggest actions based on how you use it |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/5/15732136/apple-siri-update-announced-new-features-wwdc-2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> Additionally, users are able to type to Siri,<ref>{{cite web |first=Sean |last=O'Kane |title=The 9 best iOS 11 features Apple didn't talk about onstage |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/5/15742046/apple-ios-11-features-updates-siri-wwdc-2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> and a new, privacy-minded "on-device learning" technique improves Siri's suggestions by privately analyzing personal usage of different iOS applications.<ref>{{cite web |first=Chris |last=Welch |title=Apple announces iOS 11 with new features and better iPad productivity |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/5/15732070/apple-ios-11-announced-iphone-update-new-features-wwdc-2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=June 5, 2017 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 allows users to simply say "Siri" to initiate Siri, and the virtual assistant now supports back to back requests, allowing users to issue multiple requests and conversations without reactivating it.<ref>{{cite web |title=iOS 17 Preview |url=https://www.apple.com/ios/ios-17-preview/ |website=Apple |date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> In the public beta versions of iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and [[macOS Sonoma]], Apple added support for bilingual queries to Siri.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mehta |first=Ivan |date=2023-07-13 |title=Apple introduces bilingual Siri and a full page screenshot feature with iOS 17 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/07/12/apple-introduces-bilingual-siri-and-a-full-page-screenshot-feature-with-ios-17/ |access-date=2023-07-13 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}</ref>

[[iOS 18]], [[iPadOS 18]] and [[MacOS Sequoia|MacOS 15 Sequoia]] brought [[artificial intelligence]], integrated with [[ChatGPT]], to Siri.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apple Intelligence Preview |url=https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/ |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=Apple |language=en-US}}</ref> Apple calls this "[[Apple Intelligence]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weatherbed |first=Jess |date=2024-06-10 |title=Apple is giving Siri an AI upgrade in iOS 18 |url=https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence/ |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>

== Reception ==
Siri received mixed reviews during its beta release as an integrated part of the [[IPhone 4s|iPhone 4S]] in October 2011.

MG Siegler of ''[[TechCrunch]]'' wrote that Siri was "great," understood much more, but had “no API that any developer can use“.<ref>{{cite web |first=MG |last=Siegler |title=The iPhone 4S: Faster, More Capable, And You Can Talk To It |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/11/iphone-4s-review/ |website=[[TechCrunch]] |publisher=[[AOL]] |date=October 11, 2011 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref> Writing for ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[David Pogue]] also praised Siri's [[Natural language processing|ability to understand context]]<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last=Pogue |author-link=David Pogue |title=New iPhone Conceals Sheer Magic |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/12/technology/personaltech/iphone-4s-conceals-sheer-magic-pogue.html |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 11, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> Jacqui Cheng of ''[[Ars Technica]]'' wrote that Apple's claims of what Siri could do were bold, and the early demos "even bolder", this was still in beta.<ref name="cheng2011" />

While praising its ability to "decipher our casual language" and deliver "very specific and accurate result," sometimes even providing additional information, Cheng noted and criticized its restrictions, particularly when the language moved away from "stiffer commands" into more human interactions. One example included the phrase "Send a text to Jason, Clint, Sam, and Lee saying we're having dinner at Silver Cloud," which Siri interpreted as sending a message to Jason only, containing the text "Clint Sam and Lee saying we're having dinner at Silver Cloud." She also noted a lack of proper editability. <ref name="cheng2011">{{cite web |first=Jacqui |last=Cheng |title=iPhone 4S: A Siri-ously slick, speedy smartphone |url=https://arstechnica.com/apple/2011/10/iphone-4s-a-siri-ously-slick-speedy-smartphone/ |website=[[Ars Technica]] |publisher=[[Condé Nast]] |date=October 18, 2011 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref>

[[Google]]'s executive chairman and former chief, [[Eric Schmidt]], conceded that Siri could pose a competitive threat to the company's core search business.<ref>{{cite news |first=Emma |last=Barnett |title=Google's Eric Schmidt: Apple's Siri could pose 'threat' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/eric-schmidt/8873664/Googles-Eric-Schmidt-Apples-Siri-could-pose-threat.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/eric-schmidt/8873664/Googles-Eric-Schmidt-Apples-Siri-could-pose-threat.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |website=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |date=November 7, 2011 |access-date=2017-06-10}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Siri was criticized by [[Abortion-rights movements|pro-abortion rights organizations]], including the [[American Civil Liberties Union]] (ACLU) and [[NARAL Pro-Choice America]], after users found that Siri could not provide information about the location of birth control or abortion providers nearby, sometimes directing users to [[crisis pregnancy center]]s instead.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dominic |last=Rushe |title=Siri's abortion bias embarrasses Apple as it rues 'unintentional omissions' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/dec/01/siri-abortion-apple-unintenional-omissions |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=December 1, 2011 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |first=Jared |last=Newman |title=Siri Is Pro-Life, Apple Blames a Glitch |url=https://techland.time.com/2011/12/01/siri-is-pro-life-apple-blames-a-glitch/ |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=December 1, 2011 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=John D. |last=Sutter |title=Siri can't direct you to an abortion clinic |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/01/tech/mobile/abortion-clinic-siri-iphone/ |website=[[CNN]] |date=December 1, 2011 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref>

Natalie Kerris, a spokeswoman for Apple, told ''The New York Times that , “''These are not intentional omissions…”.<ref>{{cite web |first=Jenna |last=Wortham |title=Apple Says Siri's Abortion Answers Are a Glitch |url=https://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/apple-says-siris-abortion-answers-are-a-glitch/ |website=Bits |publisher=[[The New York Times]] |date=November 30, 2011 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref> In January 2016, ''[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]]'' reported that, in then-recent months, Siri had begun to confuse the word "abortion" with "[[adoption]]", citing "health experts" who stated that the situation had "gotten worse." However, at the time of ''Fast Company''{{'}}s report, the situation had changed slightly, with Siri offering "a more comprehensive list of [[Planned Parenthood]] facilities", although "Adoption clinics continue to pop up, but near the bottom of the list."<ref>{{cite web |first=Christina |last=Farr |title=Apple Maps Stops Sending People Searching For "Abortion" To Adoption Centers |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/3055887/apple-maps-stops-sending-people-searching-for-abortion-to-adoption-centers |website=[[Fast Company (magazine)|Fast Company]] |publisher=Mansueto Ventures |date=January 28, 2016 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Mikey |last=Campbell |title=Apple correcting Siri "abortion" search issue uncovered in 2011 |url=http://appleinsider.com/articles/16/01/29/apple-correcting-siri-abortion-search-issue-uncovered-in-2011 |website=AppleInsider |date=January 29, 2016 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref>

Siri has also not been well received by some English speakers with distinctive accents, including [[Scottish English|Scottish]]<ref>{{cite web |first=Henry |last=Chu |title=Scottish burr beyond Siri's recognition |url=http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/scottish-burr-beyond-siris-recognition-20120203-1qwuy.html |website=[[The Age]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media]] |date=February 4, 2012 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref> and Americans from [[Boston accent|Boston]] or the [[Southern American English|South]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Lauren |last=Effron |title=iPhone 4S's Siri Is Lost in Translation With Heavy Accents |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/siri-lost-translation-heavy-accents/story?id=14834111 |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |publisher=[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] |date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref>

In March 2012, Frank M. Fazio filed a class action lawsuit against Apple on behalf of the people who bought the iPhone 4S and felt misled about the capabilities of Siri, alleging its failure to function as depicted in Apple's Siri commercials. Fazio filed the lawsuit in California and claimed that the iPhone 4S was merely a "more expensive iPhone 4" if Siri fails to function as advertised.<ref>{{cite web |first=Meghan |last=Kelly |title=Siri ads "false and misleading," according to class action lawsuit |url=https://venturebeat.com/2012/03/13/siri-apple-law-suit/ |website=[[VentureBeat]] |date=March 13, 2012 |access-date=June 10, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Joe |last=Palazzolo |title=So Sirious: iPhone User Sues Apple over Voice-Activated Assistant |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/law/2012/03/12/so-sirious-iphone-user-sues-apple-over-voice-activated-assistant/ |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] |date=March 12, 2012 |access-date=June 10, 2017}} {{subscription required}}</ref> On July 22, 2013, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken in San Francisco dismissed the suit but said the plaintiffs could amend at a later time. The reason given for dismissal was that plaintiffs did not sufficiently document enough misrepresentations by Apple for the trial to proceed.<ref>{{cite web |first=Rebekah |last=Kearn |title=Disgruntled iPhone 4S Buyers Told to Try Again |url=http://archive.courthousenews.com/cnsnews/Story/Index/59738 |website=[[Courthouse News Service]] |date=July 26, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2017 |archive-date=June 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616100229/http://archive.courthousenews.com/cnsnews/Story/Index/59738 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

== Perceived lack of innovation ==
In June 2016, ''[[The Verge]]''{{'}}s Sean O'Kane wrote about the then-upcoming major iOS 10 updates, with a headline stating "Siri's big upgrades won't matter if it can't understand its users":

<blockquote>What Apple didn't talk about was solving Siri's biggest, most basic flaws: it's still not very good at voice recognition, and when it gets it right, the results are often clunky. And these problems look even worse when you consider that Apple now has full-fledged competitors in this space: [[Amazon.com|Amazon]]'s [[Amazon Alexa|Alexa]], [[Microsoft]]'s [[Cortana (software)|Cortana]], and Google's [[Google Assistant|Assistant]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Sean |last=O'Kane |title=Siri's big upgrades won't matter if it can't understand its users |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/6/14/11925076/siri-apple-wwdc-ios-updates-voice-recognition |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=June 14, 2016 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref></blockquote> Also writing for ''The Verge'', [[Walt Mossberg]] had previously questioned Apple's efforts in cloud-based services, writing:<ref>{{cite web |first=Walt |last=Mossberg |title=Mossberg: Can Apple win the next tech war? |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/5/25/11765624/walt-mossberg-apple-wwdc-2016-siri-ai-bots |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=May 25, 2016 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref>

<blockquote>...{{nbsp}}perhaps the biggest disappointment among Apple's cloud-based services is the one it needs most today, right now: Siri. Before Apple bought it, Siri was on the road to being a robust digital assistant that could do many things, and integrate with many services—even though it was being built by a startup with limited funds and people. After Apple bought Siri, the giant company seemed to treat it as a backwater, restricting it to doing only a few, slowly increasing number of tasks, like telling you the weather, sports scores, movie and restaurant listings, and controlling the device's functions. Its unhappy founders have left Apple to build a new AI service called [[Viv (software)|Viv]]. And, on too many occasions, Siri either gets things wrong, doesn't know the answer, or can't verbalize it. Instead, it shows you a web search result, even when you're not in a position to read it.</blockquote>

In October 2016, ''[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]'' reported that Apple had plans to unify the teams behind its various cloud-based services, including a single campus and reorganized cloud computing resources aimed at improving the processing of Siri's queries,<ref>{{cite web |first=Mark |last=Gurman |title=Apple Said to Plan Improved Cloud Services by Unifying Teams |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-06/apple-is-said-to-plan-improved-cloud-services-by-unifying-teams |website=Bloomberg Technology |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |date=October 6, 2016 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref> although another report from ''The Verge'', in June 2017, once again called Siri's voice recognition "bad."<ref>{{cite web |first=Sean |last=O'Kane |title=Apple still hasn't fixed Siri's biggest problem |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/6/7/15742936/apple-siri-problems-voice-recognition-wwdc-2017 |website=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Vox Media]] |date=June 7, 2017 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref>

In June 2017, ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' published an extensive report on the lack of innovation with Siri following competitors' advancement in the field of voice assistants. Noting that Apple workers' anxiety levels "went up a notch" on the announcement of Amazon's Alexa, the ''Journal'' wrote: "Today, Apple is playing catch-up in a product category it invented, increasing worries about whether the technology giant has lost some of its innovation edge." The report gave the primary causes being Apple's prioritization of user privacy, including randomly-tagged six-month Siri searches, whereas Google and Amazon keep data until actively discarded by the user,{{clarify|date=December 2022}} and executive power struggles within Apple. Apple did not comment on the report, while [[Eddy Cue]] said: "Apple often uses generic data rather than user data to train its systems and has the ability to improve Siri's performance for individual users with information kept on their iPhones."<ref name="WSJ innovation">{{cite web |first=Tripp |last=Mickle |title='I'm Not Sure I Understand'—How Apple's Siri Lost Her Mojo |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/apples-siri-once-an-original-now-struggles-to-be-heard-above-the-crowd-1496849095 |website=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |publisher=[[Dow Jones & Company]] |date=June 7, 2017 |access-date=2017-06-10}} {{subscription required}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Tim |last=Hardwick |title=Apple's Concern With User Privacy Reportedly Stifling Siri Development |url=https://www.macrumors.com/2017/06/08/apple-struggling-to-develop-siri-privacy/ |website=[[MacRumors]] |date=June 8, 2017 |access-date=2017-06-10}}</ref>

== Privacy controversy ==
In July 2019, a then-anonymous whistleblower and former Apple contractor Thomas le Bonniec said that Siri regularly records some of its users' conversations even when it was not activated. The recordings are sent to Apple contractors grading Siri's responses on a variety of factors. Among other things, the contractors regularly hear private conversations between doctors and patients, business and drug deals, and couples having sex. Apple did not disclose this in its privacy documentation and did not provide a way for its users to opt-in or out.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Apple contractors 'regularly hear confidential details' on Siri recordings|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/26/apple-contractors-regularly-hear-confidential-details-on-siri-recordings|date=July 26, 2019|last=Hern|first=Alex|work=The Guardian|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref>

[[File:How legendary is siri?.png|thumb|An example of a conversation with Siri.]]

In August 2019, Apple apologized, halted the Siri grading program, and said that it plans to resume "later this fall when software updates are released to [its] users".<ref>{{Cite news|title=Apple apologises for allowing workers to listen to Siri recordings|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/aug/29/apple-apologises-listen-siri-recordings|date=August 29, 2019|last=Hern|first=Alex|work=The Guardian|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref> The company also announced "it would no longer listen to Siri recordings without your permission".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Smart Home Privacy Guide: Keep Amazon, Google and Apple From Listening In |url=https://www.cnet.com/home/smart-home/smart-home-privacy-guide-keep-amazon-google-and-apple-from-listening-in/ |access-date=2023-08-23 |website=CNET |language=en}}</ref> iOS 13.2, released in October 2019, introduced the ability to opt out of the grading program and to delete all the voice recordings that Apple has stored on its servers.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Apple lets users delete Siri recordings in new iPhone update after apologizing for handling of user data|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/28/ios-13point2-has-new-siri-privacy-settings-including-deletion-and-opt-out.html|date=October 28, 2019|last=Leswing|first=Kif|work=CNBC|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref> Users were given the choice of whether their audio data was received by Apple or not, with the ability to change their decision as often as they like. It was then made an opt-in program.

In May 2020, Thomas le Bonniec revealed himself as the whistleblower and sent a letter to European data protection regulators, calling on them to investigate Apple's "past and present" use of Siri recordings. He argued that, even though Apple has apologized, it has never faced the consequences for its years-long grading program.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Apple whistleblower goes public over 'lack of action'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/may/20/apple-whistleblower-goes-public-over-lack-of-action|date=May 20, 2020|last=Hern|first=Alex|work=The Guardian|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Apple whistleblower calls for European privacy probes into Big Tech voice assistants|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/05/20/apple-whistleblower-europe-big-tech-272771|date=May 20, 2020|last=Kayali|first=Laura|work=Politico|access-date=May 12, 2021}}</ref>

In December 2024, Apple agreed to a $95 million class-action settlement, compensating users of Siri-enabled from the past ten years. Additionally, Apple must confirm the deletion of Siri recordings before 2019 (when the feature became opt-in) and issue new guidance on how data is collected and how users can participate in efforts to improve Siri.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Chris |date=2025-01-03 |title=Users in uproar over spying as Apple buries 'unintended Siri activation' claims with $95M settlement |url=https://www.androidpolice.com/apple-unintended-siri-activation-claims-95m-settlement/ |access-date=2025-01-03 |website=Android Police |language=en}}</ref>

== Social impacts and awareness ==

=== Disability ===
Apple has introduced various accessibility features aimed at making its devices more inclusive for individuals with disabilities. The company provides users the opportunity to share feedback on accessibility features through email.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-06 |title=How I influenced Apple's Siri updates and what other accessibility features I'm hoping for in 2024 |url=https://www.aestumanda.com/technology/2024/02/how-i-influenced-apples-siri-updates-and-what-other-accessibility-features-im-hoping-for-in-2024/#google_vignette |access-date=2024-11-25 |website=Aestumanda |language=en-GB}}</ref> Some of the new functionalities include live speech, personal voice, Siri's atypical speech pattern recognition, and much more.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Get started with accessibility features on iPhone |url=https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/get-started-with-accessibility-features-iph3e2e4367/ios |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Apple Support |language=en}}</ref>  

Accessibility features: 

* VoiceOver: This feature provides visual feedback for Siri responses, allowing users to engage with Siri through both visual and auditory channels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Associates |first=Specialty Physician |date=2024-02-05 |title=Best Ways to Use Siri if You Have Hearing Loss |url=https://specialtyphysicianassociates.com/news/best-ways-to-use-siri-if-you-have-hearing-loss/ |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Specialty Physician Associates |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Voice-to-text and text-to-voice: Siri can transcribe spoken words into and text as well as read text typed by the user out loud.<ref>{{Cite web |last=audseo |date=2024-06-06 |title=Hearing Loss and the Use of Siri |url=https://toumahearing.com/hearing-loss-and-using-siri/#:~:text=There%20are%20several%20ways%20in%20which%20Siri,to%20follow%20conversations%20or%20understand%20phone%20calls. |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Touma Hearing Centers |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Text commands: Users can type what they want Siri to do.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Change Siri accessibility settings on iPhone |url=https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/change-siri-accessibility-settings-iphaff1d606/ios#:~:text=Type%20instead%20of%20speak%20to,this%20option%20isn't%20shown. |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Apple Support |language=en}}</ref>
* Personal voice: This allows users to create a synthesized voice that sounds like them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Create a Personal Voice on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/104993 |access-date=2024-11-26 |website=Apple Support |language=en}}</ref>

=== Bias ===
Siri, like many AI systems, can perpetuate gender and racial biases through its design and functionality. As aurgued by ''The Conversation'', Siri "reinforces the role of women as secondary and submissive to men" due to the fact that the default is a soft, female voice.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=Rachel |date=2019-09-22 |title=Artificial Intelligence has a gender bias problem – just ask Siri |url=https://theconversation.com/artificial-intelligence-has-a-gender-bias-problem-just-ask-siri-123937 |access-date=2024-11-28 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref> Although Apple now offers a larger variety of voices with different accents and languages. According to an article from ''The Scientific American'', Claudia Lloreda explains that non-native English speakers have to "adapt our way of speaking to interact with speech-recognition technologies."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stephanides |first=Kathy |date=December 1, 2023 |title=My Siri-ous Relationship: a Blind Woman's Connection to her Virtual Assistant |url=https://medium.com/illumination/my-relationship-with-siri-as-a-blind-woman-614d6489eeb4 |website=Medium}}</ref> Furthermore, due to repetitive "learnings" from a larger user base, Siri may unintentionally produce a Western perspective, limiting representation and furthering biases in everyday interactions. Despite these perpetuated issues, Siri does not provides several benefits as well, especially for those with disabilities that typically limit their abilities to use technology and access the internet.

== Swearing ==
The iOS version of Siri ships with a vulgar content filter; however, it is disabled by default and must be enabled by the user manually.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://osxdaily.com/2017/12/28/disable-explicit-language-siri-ios/ |title=How to Disable Bad Language in Siri on iPhone and iPad |date=2017-12-28 |work=OS X Daily |access-date=2018-05-05 |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2018, ''[[Ars Technica]]'' reported a new glitch that could be exploited by a user requesting the definition of "[[mother]]" be read out loud. Siri would issue a response and ask the user if they would like to hear the next definition; when the user replies with "yes," Siri would mention "mother" as being short for "[[motherfucker]]."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/04/iphones-weirdest-glitch-yet-ask-siri-to-define-mother-twice-learn-a-bad-word/ |title=iPhone's weirdest glitch yet: Ask Siri to define 'mother' twice, learn a bad word |work=[[Ars Technica]] |access-date=2018-04-29 |language=en-us}}</ref> This resulted in multiple [[YouTube]] videos featuring the responses and/or how to trigger them. Apple fixed the issue silently. The content is picked up from third-party sources such as the ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' and not a supplied message from the corporation.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.news18.com/news/tech/apple-iphone-siri-mother-caught-cursing-on-an-fixes-the-bug-silently-1734967.html |title=Siri Caught Cursing on an iPhone; Apple Fixes the Bug Silently |publisher=News18 |access-date=2018-05-05}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
Siri provided the voice of [[Batcomputer|'Puter]] in ''[[The Lego Batman Movie]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/02/17/hello-siri-please-tell-us-about-your-feature-film-debut-in-lego-batman-movie/?noredirect=on|title=Hello, Siri. Please tell us about your feature-film debut in 'Lego Batman Movie' …|last=Cavna|first=Michael|newspaper=[[Washington Post]]|date=February 17, 2017|access-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of speech recognition software]]
* [[Amazon Alexa]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* For a detailed article on the history of the organizations and technologies preceding the development of Siri, and their influence upon that application, see Bianca Bosker, 2013, "[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/22/siri-do-engine-apple-iphone_n_2499165.html Siri Rising: The Inside Story Of Siri's Origins (And Why She Could Overshadow The iPhone)]", in ''The Huffington Post'' (online), January 22, 2013 (updated January 24, 2013), accessed November 2, 2014.

== External links ==
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.apple.com/ios/feature-availability/#siri Siri's supported languages]
* [https://developer.apple.com/sirikit/ SiriKit, Siri for developers]
* {{Cite web |url=https://wit.ai/blog/2014/12/18/adam-keynote |title=The Story of Siri, by its founder Adam Cheyer |publisher=wit.ai |access-date=2015-10-30 |date=2014-12-18}}

{{Apple Inc.}}
{{Intelligent personal assistant software}}
{{iOS}}

[[Category:Apple Inc. software]]
[[Category:Virtual assistants]]
[[Category:IOS software]]
[[Category:TvOS software]]
[[Category:WatchOS software]]
[[Category:Natural language processing software]]
[[Category:2011 software]]
[[Category:SRI International software]]
[[Category:Apple Inc. acquisitions]]
[[Category:2010 mergers and acquisitions]]