Siri's Decline: Why AI Can't Save the Struggling Voice Assistant

Siri's Declining Performance and the Need for Drastic Measures

Siri, once a revolutionary voice assistant, has become increasingly unreliable over the years. The author argues that while Siri was impressive when it was first introduced in 2011, it now fails to meet user expectations and often causes frustration. Despite some improvements, the core issues with Siri remain unresolved.

Proposed Solutions

1. Discontinue the Siri Brand: Declare Siri complete and in maintenance mode, removing new feature additions and focusing on stabilizing existing features. Rename the remaining functionalities as 'Voice Control.'
2. Allow Third-Party Integration: Apple should permit other AI voice assistants like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Alexa to have deeper system integration with iOS devices, allowing these services to be invoked without unlocking the device.
3. Define Apple Intelligence: Refocus the Apple Intelligence brand on its strengths, such as writing tools, notification summaries, and creative generation features.

Future Implications

The author suggests that if Siri continues to underperform, it could lead to a demand for changing the default voice assistant on iOS devices or even a shift towards AI-first hardware from competitors. The upcoming WWDC 2025 is seen as a critical moment for Apple to demonstrate its commitment to improving Siri and integrating AI more effectively.

Conclusion

Siri's deep device integration should be a strength, but it has become a liability. Unless significant improvements are made, users may increasingly consider alternative platforms or standalone AI devices.