Apple plans to use language models to make Siri smarter in iOS 18 Information. Apple wants ‌Siri‌ to help users automate complex, multi-step tasks with voice commands. For example, Siri can do something like take a series of five photos in a single action, convert them to GIFs, and send the resulting GIF to a friend. Automatic conversion of photos to GIF is already possible with “Shortcut”, but it has to be configured manually.

Siri’s functionality will be similar to that of the Shortcuts app, and Siri is likely to integrate more deeply with Shortcuts. Shortcuts have become an essential part of the iPhone operating system and can be used for some powerful automatic actions. Apple supports a gallery of shortcuts for everything from removing backgrounds from images to creating to-do lists.

The report suggests that Apple plans to release new Siri features as part of the iPhone operating system next year, and they will be part of iOS 18. Apple’s rival Google is also working to update Google Assistant with language modeling software that can handle more. Because of the complex tasks, Apple may want to get ahead of Google or at least launch similar functions at the same time.

Apple’s Siri personal assistant has long been criticized for falling far behind voice assistants from other companies like Google and Alexa, especially due to Apple’s focus on security and privacy. Most of Siri’s tasks are performed on the device rather than on a cloud server; so Apple will need to strike a balance between privacy and functionality by adopting language models for Siri.

The iOS 17 update, which is scheduled for general availability in a few weeks, includes very few new Siri features, but there are also key features to pioneer multitasking. Siri in iOS 17 can recognize and respond to multiple requests in a row without reactivation; this is not possible in iOS 16. For example, you can ask “Siri” for the time and ask a friend to send you a text message notifying you. they are late without two separate requests.

Apple also removed the wake word “Hey” in iOS 17; now you can just say “Siri” to activate the personal assistant. Leaving the “Hey” command allows for a more natural interaction with Siri. Apple follows a tight release schedule for its software, so we can expect the iOS 18 feature set to be unveiled at the 2024 World Developers Conference.