This year hasn’t been stellar for the HomePod, yet Apple is finally giving its smart speaker the attention it deserves. The newly released HomePod 18.2 software update introduces a significant enhancement to one of Siri’s most utilized features: Apple Music requests.
Siri now comprehends natural language Apple Music requests
This has been a landmark year for AI, but sadly, the device fundamentally centered on Apple’s ‘intelligent assistant’ has seen little attention in 2024.
What could have been a major breakthrough for HomePod has turned into a minor color alteration that most users might not notice. Additionally, several software updates have come through, which purportedly only address bugs.
However, there’s still hope for HomePod enthusiasts. Today, Apple has unveiled the first substantial software update of 2024.
The HomePod 18.2 is rolling out today, bringing with it a noteworthy enhancement.
Take a look at Apple’s release notes:
Siri on HomePod is now harmonized with Apple Music’s natural language search, allowing you to express what you want to play using various categories such as genre, mood, decade, or activity.
If you’re a HomePod owner, you likely frequently request Apple Music tunes.
Now, Siri can grasp those requests, even when articulated in natural language.
We’ve grown accustomed to the specific phrasing that Siri understands, but with HomePod 18.2, it seems we can relax our language a bit.
In theory, Siri should now be able to interpret requests like, “Play some pop hits from the 90s, but keep it chill.”
I haven’t had the chance to test this yet, but if functioning correctly, the natural language support for Apple Music requests could significantly enhance the Siri experience, even without advanced AI.
Have you tried out natural language search with HomePod 18.2? How is it working for you? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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