Apple is believed to be working on a new AI “personality” that it can install into future devices, much like the role Siri plays in the iPhone, only its functions are expected to be significantly more advanced. Siri has already been scheduled for a major upgrade later this year with the next iOS version release, but a Siri AI replacement is likely to accompany Apple’s expansion into other product categories. Apple’s next-gen AI and ongoing projects are still shrouded in mystery, but this piece of information does suggest a radical transformation is in order.
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New Apple AI Personality Could Make an Appearance in Coming Years
A Siri AI replacement sounds quite dramatic when you think about how many years we’ve spent with the assistant as the guiding light for all things Apple, but we might be blowing things out of proportion. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman revealed the rumor in his Power On newsletter, stating that Apple’s next-gen AI could take on a new form in its future devices. Apple’s new AI personality should have a more “humanlike” demeanor, capable of following a wider variety of instructions compared to what Siri is expected to accomplish on an iPhone.
Apple’s work on a new AI personality is unsurprising. The company already has quite an elaborate range of devices, covering smartphones, laptops, and adjacent wearable technology, but there is a much wider sphere of tech that the company can explore. We’ve seen rumors of an Apple flip phone and smart ring floating around, along with a cheaper pair of Vision Pro headsets, but these are predictable expansions for the company. The Apple range of audio devices and iPads have their own dedicated customer base, however, Siri’s integration in these projects is an obvious choice. Its functions will remain the same.
The Siri replacement rumors come in the wake of other leaks that suggest that Apple is working on a tabletop robot that will flaunt a display and a robot arm. The display is expected to take on features from the existing iPad and act like a control for the robot arm. A team of “several hundred people” is reported to be working on this project, with Kevin Lynch, Apple’s VP of Technology leading the team.
What We Know about the Apple AI Robot
Not much is known about the full extent of Apple’s plans with the robot but all signs point to the device taking the shape of a smart home command center where you will be able to control other linked smart gadgets with ease. The iPad-like display will make it easy to monitor activity, and could also double as a video conferencing machine or security tool.
The purpose and functionality of the robot arm still remain unclear. Considering the device is to be stationary, what purpose could it serve within a home? Cutting up some vegetables or pushing the start button on your expresso machine? The possibilities are endless and the details inconclusive.
“One vital piece of the robotic work is the creation of a personality. While Siri is the digital assistant on Apple’s current devices, the company is working on another humanlike interface based on generative AI. It could run on the tabletop product and other future Apple robotics devices, I’m told.”
—Mark Gurman
An Apple AI robot is not something many might have expected, but it appears to be the company’s chosen strategy forward. The tabletop product is unlike to arrive anytime before 2026-27, so we have plenty of time for more leaks and rumors of the AI robot and Apple’s new AI personality. The device is expected to be priced around $1,000 USD which sounds quite reasonably priced considering how expensive the company’s other products are. This would make it the same price as an M4 iPad Pro.
The new Apple AI personality is an additional expense over the actual products the company is currently designing, so the Siri makers must have a solid reason for shifting away from their current assistant.