The standout change to Siri in iOS 18 is its redesigned interface. Gone is the floating orb; instead, there’s a colorful glow encircling the device to indicate that Siri is now enhanced by Apple Intelligence. However, the most significant AI features for Siri are yet to be released, with updates expected in the upcoming iterations of iOS 18.
Apple has outlined a total of 13 new features for Siri in iOS 18. While many have already been rolled out, it might not yet feel like these major updates for Siri have landed.
The most significant AI-related enhancement so far is Siri’s ability to transfer requests to ChatGPT. Although I’m a frequent ChatGPT user, Siri isn’t among my top three methods of accessing it.
Here’s a look at the 10 new features Siri includes in iOS 18 to date:
More Resilient Request Handling
If you mispronounce a word or shift your thoughts while speaking, Siri will still keep up with you.
For instance, you might say:
“Siri, set an alarm—oh no, actually a timer for 10 minutes—scratch that, let’s do 15 instead.”
Siri will adapt accordingly without the need for a fresh command.
Maintains Conversational Context
Siri remembers your recent requests to facilitate smoother follow-up questions.
For example, if you ask, “When’s the next Warriors game?” and then say, “Add that to my calendar,” Siri will recognize what “that” refers to.
Glowing Edge Light
A new illuminated edge wraps around the screen while you converse with Siri. This dynamic animation responds to your voice, allowing you to continue scrolling, typing, or navigating your device concurrently.
Predictive Text in Siri Keyboard
As you compose a request for Siri, predictive text will aid in completing your command more swiftly. This feature is particularly designed to enhance Siri interactions.
More Natural Voice
Siri now presents a more natural, expressive, and clear voice, synthesized entirely on-device using Apple Intelligence’s advanced language models.
Product Knowledge
Siri can respond to thousands of inquiries regarding Apple product features and settings by consulting Apple support documentation and large language models.
Type to Siri
You can now type commands to Siri whenever you wish. All voice commands are also available for text input, allowing you to switch between text and voice effortlessly.
Suggestions in Siri Keyboard
Siri provides suggested actions above the keyboard, granting quick access to frequently performed tasks.
More Visually Rich Responses
Responses from Siri are now designed to visually align with the app they refer to. For instance, when inquiring about the weather, the answer will appear as though it came straight from the Weather app.
ChatGPT Integration
Siri can utilize ChatGPT for certain requests where it believes ChatGPT may offer a more accurate response.
Moreover, you can inquire about images, documents (including PDFs and presentations), among others. You will always be prompted before any data is sent to ChatGPT, and Siri will present the answer in a seamless manner.
If it seems like Siri is mostly unchanged in iOS 18, it’s because the three most significant updates are still being worked on.
While we initially anticipated these Siri features to debut in iOS 18.4 beta shortly, it now appears some may be postponed until iOS 18.5.
Regardless, here are the three remaining upgrades for Siri in iOS 18:
Personal Context Understanding
Powers of Apple Intelligence, Siri can comprehend your emails, messages, photos, calendar entries, and various other content on your device. This allows Siri to offer personalized responses.
For instance, if you ask, “What was that movie Jamie recommended?” Siri can locate that relevant message from last week. Similarly, by saying, “Enter my passport number here,” Siri can extract the number from a saved passport image and input it for you.
Onscreen Awareness
Siri can now recognize and interact with content displayed on your screen. For example, if a friend messages you about a new coffee shop nearby, you can simply say, “How long would it take for me to walk there from home?” and Siri will process your inquiry based on that text.
In-App Actions
Siri is now able to execute hundreds of new actions across both first- and third-party applications.
• While you’re editing a photo, you can instruct, “Make this image warmer,” and Siri will adjust the settings in the Photos app.
• Siri can also transition between apps – after making edits, you can say, “Add this to my ratatouille recipe note,” and Siri will seamlessly shift from Photos to Notes to complete the task.
DMN’s Perspective
Which of these capabilities will debut in the iOS 18.4 beta? We will find out soon enough. However, their effectiveness remains to be seen.
This moment feels pivotal for Siri, as these three upcoming enhancements are crucial for gauging Apple’s ability to harness AI with Siri.
These features represent AI applications that only Apple can effectively implement—not due to a lack of AI expertise, but because of Apple’s unique position as a platform operator.
Apple must complete these ambitious features before making sweeping promises about Siri and Apple Intelligence heading into iOS 19. With WWDC 2025 coming up in less than four months, time is of the essence.
Siri ought to be the most capable voice assistant available on the iPhone.
Being the sole assistant with deep integration into both device and operating system elevates the stakes for Apple to excel in AI rather than just serve as a foundation for innovative technologies.
If Siri fails to keep pace, a compelling argument will surface for Apple to change the default voice assistant and permit other competing assistants to integrate with iOS. Otherwise, standalone AI devices may increasingly present a valid alternative.
Moreover, limited integration with temporary ChatGPT commands won’t suffice in the long run. Ultimately, the iPhone might seem less attractive to individuals who prioritize having the finest AI-powered voice assistant over blue iMessage bubbles.
