Kerry Wan/ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways:
- An upgraded version of App Intents could make Siri the true hands-free iPhone companion.
- Apple is currently testing these Siri App Intents with a handful of third-party apps.
- The revamped Siri could ship in the spring of 2026, reports Bloomberg.
When Apple first announced an upgraded and more capable Siri, every one of its users was reasonably excited. Unfortunately, that promise never happened, and the new Siri continues to be delayed. However, ahead of the upcoming Apple event, new details have emerged that may make antsy users a little more patient.
And if the rumors are true, I’m anticipating the big Siri rollout to finally get me to switch from Gemini to Apple’s voice assistant.
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According to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, App Intents could “finally make Siri the true hands-free controller of your iPhone.” He explains, “App Intents will mean: With nothing but your voice, you’ll be able to tell Siri to find a specific photo, edit it, and send it off. Or comment on an Instagram post…. Siri could operate your apps like you would — with precision, inside their own interfaces.”
Why this upgrade matters so much
All of this still sounds like a far-fetched dream, especially when other companies are struggling to publicly roll out similar capabilities to their voice assistants. Amazon announced Alexa+ in February and showcased demos of it booking an Uber and a concert ticket, but Alexa+ is yet to get wider public availability.
It’s because it is hard to get high-stakes tasks related to health or banking apps correct every time. Gurman reports that Apple engineers have been struggling to ensure that revamped Siri is “accurate enough to handle high-stakes scenarios.”
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Per the report, Apple is currently testing these Siri App Intents with a handful of third-party apps, like YouTube, Amazon, Facebook, WhatsApp, Temu, Threads, and more. However, it could “sharply limit what Siri can do” in other sensitive categories and even exclude those areas altogether.
A new and updated voice assistant isn’t just about making Siri smarter but enabling a new, voice-first interface across the Apple ecosystem. As of now, Gemini Live has been the most capable voice assistant on a phone, from those that I have tested.
Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
I’m currently using the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and find myself conversing with Gemini Live frequently, but there’s friction when it comes to app compatibility. I wish I could add ideas to my working Google Doc or reschedule meetings and Calendar invites just by asking my phone, but that’s not possible yet.
Google is expanding Gemini Live support to several in-house productivity apps, which should improve the experience — I can now add my thoughts to Google Keep and add reminders to Google Calendar, which is far more capable than the current version of Siri.
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But if Apple succeeds in building the Siri that’s being speculated about, I would gladly switch to using it instead of Google’s Gemini.
I love it when I am out and about and my Meta Ray-Bans announce a WhatsApp notification, and let me reply to that person or call them without touching my phone. I see a future where I won’t have to touch a screen to interact with my gadget, but will be able to talk to it through my smartglasses or a pair of earbuds.
While this idea sounds fun and futuristic, it’ll have higher risks and little margin of error, which is why it hasn’t happened yet. As Gurman says, if Apple is actually able to bring it to market, “it could potentially be a hit that many users didn’t see coming.”
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