Yep, you read that right. Apple’s “Glowtime” event just dropped a bombshell: Siri might actually become useful. Who would’ve thought? Apple has finally decided to give Siri a major glow-up with the new iPhone 16 lineup, backed by their AI-powered Apple Intelligence, and even more juicy—there’s a partnership with ChatGPT creator OpenAI. That’s right, the same AI model that probably helped you write that awkward work email last week.
While Siri’s full transformation is still in the oven, Apple promises that these upgrades will make your iPhone 16 more than just a pocket-sized computer—it’s now your personal AI assistant. Will this finally make Siri worth talking to? Well, Apple sure hopes so.
So, What’s New With Siri?
The changes start small but promising. First up, Siri will now let you type questions instead of making you awkwardly shout into your phone in public. You’ll also be able to have actual conversations with Siri, and by conversations, I mean it’ll finally understand your mumbled or half-baked commands without acting like you’re speaking Klingon. Oh, and you can now change the wake word, so feel free to spice it up.
But that’s just the appetizer. Developers are also getting their hands on SiriKit, allowing them to weave Siri’s newfound AI skills into third-party apps. Imagine asking Siri to do something beyond just “Set a reminder”—like controlling complex app functions. Apple’s already integrated this into Calendar, Mail, Safari, Photos, and more.
And get this: AirPods are getting a mind-reading upgrade! Well, almost. You’ll soon be able to nod or shake your head in response to Siri. No more awkwardly saying “Yes” or “No”—just bob that noggin.
Siri’s Glow-Up is Literal
Siri’s also ditching the whole “glowing orb” look. Instead, when you activate Siri on your iPhone, iPad, or CarPlay, it’ll light up the edges of the screen with a cool glow. Honestly, it’s about time Siri looked as futuristic as it’s supposed to be. No more boring dots—now we’re talking lights, baby!
The Real Magic: Apple Intelligence (Coming Soon-ish)
Here’s where it gets exciting. Apple Intelligence isn’t fully here yet, but when it drops, it’s going to change how you interact with Siri—and your iPhone. Siri will finally understand your personal context. So instead of saying, “Call Mom,” you can say something like, “What’s the weather for my meeting with Dave next Thursday?” and Siri will get it. Yep, Siri will know exactly which meeting you’re talking about, where it’s happening, and how humid it’s going to be.
You’ll even be able to say, “Send Erica the photos from Saturday’s BBQ,” and Siri will dig through your phone, find those fire pics, and send them off. Pretty slick, right? This all comes courtesy of Apple’s shiny new AI system, Apple Intelligence, which will basically supercharge Siri into becoming that personal assistant you always wanted. No more fumbling through apps and settings—just say the word, and Siri will do the heavy lifting.
Oh, and Siri’s finally going to be able to offer tech support—because who knows their own phone better than Siri, right?
Apple + OpenAI = Power Couple?
Here’s the real kicker: Apple is teaming up with OpenAI. That’s right, soon you’ll be able to send those “what’s the capital of Greenland”-type questions to ChatGPT instead of watching Siri struggle and then serve you up a web search. And honestly, it’s about time.
Apple partnering with OpenAI is their way of jumping into the AI race, but without the embarrassing slip-ups that come from AI models hallucinating (looking at you, Bard). OpenAI’s ChatGPT will take care of all the trivia and world knowledge questions, while Apple keeps Siri on a leash for everything else.
When Can You Expect All This?
If you’re chomping at the bit, don’t worry, it’s coming. A beta version of Apple Intelligence will drop next month in the U.S., with more features rolling out over the next few months. For the rest of the world, English-speaking markets like Australia, the U.K., and South Africa will get it soon after, followed by other languages like Chinese, French, and Spanish sometime next year.
So there you have it. Siri’s growing up, and Apple Intelligence is here to (hopefully) save the day. Is this enough to finally get you to use Siri for more than setting timers and reminders? Guess we’ll have to wait and see. But one thing’s for sure—Siri just got a whole lot cooler.
