What we know as Apple set to launch ‘Siri 2.0’

With the launch of iPhone 16, Apple will kick off the biggest upgrade to its voice assistant Siri since it first appeared in 2010 – with an artificial intelligence version some are calling Siri 2.0.

The new upgrade will see Siri able to converse far more naturally – users can interrupt the assistant while talking and it will respond – and perform actions across multiple apps, such as responding to commands like "send the email I drafted to Colin and Sally".

The assistant will be powered by generative AI, much like Google’s newly upgraded Gemini assistant, which appears in its Pixel phones.

It will also have an entirely new look, with Apple promising further integrations such as being able to say "yes" to Siri by nodding while wearing Airpods in the coming months.

Here’s what to expect from "Siri 2.0"...

What is Siri?

Siri is Apple’s voice assistant, first introduced as an iPhone app in 2010 and integrated into iOS in 2011.

It works across Apple devices such as iPhones, iPads, Apple Watch and Apple Macs, and was initially introduced by Steve Jobs.

What are the expected changes?

The new version of Siri is a complete overhaul, with generative AI used to make Siri more intelligent and able to carry on more "human-like" conversations.

Users will be able to interact with Siri either by speaking or typing: users can type by double-tapping the bottom of the screen.

Siri is able to interact with multiple apps, for instance sending emails, or finding a message from a contact, regardless of which app they used.

Siri has also had a visual overhaul: when users summon Siri, instead of a glowing ball at the bottom, the edges of the display glow instead.

Apple said earlier this year: "With an all-new design, richer language understanding, and the ability to type to Siri whenever it’s convenient for you, communicating with Siri is more natural than ever.

"Equipped with awareness of your personal context, the ability to take action in and across apps, and product knowledge about your devices’ features and settings, Siri will be able to assist you like never before."

Why is the conversation different?

Siri can understand follow-up questions and be interrupted – so that you can, for example, change a timer from 15 minutes to 25 without cancelling it first.

Unlike the previous Siri, which reads out information from the internet in response to questions, it can reply in a more "human-like" fashion, powered by generative AI.

In conversation, you can follow up with an additional question, such as: "Siri, what is happening to Meta Stock? What about Netflix?"

Siri is also aware of what is on your device’s screen, so if someone texts you an address, you can say: "Siri, add this to my address book."

What else is different?

Far more so than previously, Siri will be tightly integrated into apps on iPhones and Mac devices.

It can find specific information in multiple apps, so if you ask it for your passport number, it can find it, regardless of whether you sent it in Mail or Messages.

It will be able to interact with Apple apps such as Books, Calendar, Mail, Contacts, Camera, Safari and others.

With Camera, users can command the device to open in a specific mode and set a timer, for example.

In Mail, users will be able to send auto-replies generated by AI, among other features, while in photos, Siri will be able to search for specific objects.

What else can Siri do?

Apple promises that Siri will be better-integrated into other Apple devices such as Airpods.

In an upcoming update (not at launch with iOS 18) users will be able to say, "yes" and "no" to Siri by shaking or nodding their heads while wearing Airpods.

Apple also promises integration with smart home devices such as robot vacuum cleaners, with users able to "ask Siri to clean the floor".

How to enable Siri on your phone?

The bad news for iPhone users is that the new Siri is only compatible with a limited range of devices at launch.

Specifically, you’ll need an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or an iPad or Mac with the new M1 chip.

When is the new Siri arriving?

The first update to Siri will arrive with iOS 18, which will happen with the launch of the new iPhone 16 this month.

The "Glowtime" launch event will take place in the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters on Monday, with insiders predicting that the phones will arrive on 20 September.

But not all of the functions will arrive with the new iOS 18.

Bloomberg’s well-informed Apple expert Mark Gurman predicts some of the advanced functions won’t arrive in iOS 18.1 but will instead come in an iOS 18.4 update in the New Year.