0
0
Apple News reports that the company is preparing to allow third-party voice assistants to replace Siri.
It may change the way millions interact with their devices in the future.
This new feature is reportedly coming to iOS 19 and would open up Apple’s traditionally closed ecosystem.
Apple News: The End of Siri’s Monopoly on Apple Devices
The Bloomberg report says Apple plans to allow users to switch from Siri to third-party assistants.
It could push Siri into the background so iPhone, iPad, and Mac users can simultaneously use Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, or Google’s Gemini.
The development comes amid growing criticism of Siri’s capabilities compared to more advanced AI assistants. As of 2011, Siri has had trouble understanding complex inquiries and performing sophisticated tasks.
Bloomberg suggests if Apple does not improve its offerings significantly, users will switch.
The traditionally defensive stance Apple has taken towards its ecosystem may soon change. The company therefore does not allow deep integrations with third parties due to security and privacy concerns.
As a result of regulations, Apple is now able to open up previously non-public aspects of its platforms.
EU Regulations Driving Change
Regulations imposed by the European Union seem to be responsible for this unexpected move. This law curbs the power of tech giants.
Apple isn’t the first company to give in to EU regulation and include third-party apps for browsing, messaging, and navigation.
At first, only European Union residents will be able to use the functionality. Such changes have spread globally in the past. European Union requirements will eventually require Apple Pay to expand beyond Apple Pay, according to Apple officials.
Apple News Today: What This Means for Users?
Apple News looks dramatically different today than it did just a few years ago, as the company gradually opens up its walled garden. It will allow users to take advantage of more capable AI assistants without having to resort to awkward hacks.
Android users have long been able to change their default digital assistant through their settings menu.
A change like this may affect the integration of third-party assistants with iOS and other Apple operating systems.
This coincides with Apple’s renewed focus on AI. There were a lot of AI announcements at WWDC last year, but Siri wasn’t among them.
In-depth challenges and questions
Siri is deeply integrated into the iOS framework, so third-party alternatives have a hard time integrating seamlessly. Apple has traditionally restricted access to system-level features to voice assistants for security reasons.
A visual choice menu is not available for some AirPods functionality and HomePods features. Can Apple provide alternative assistants in these situations? How can “Hey Siri” be customized to trigger different assistants?
Read Also: How to Claim Your Lopez Voice Assistant Settlement Before Apple’s Siri Closing Date?
How Apple Voice Assistants Will Change the World?
It is possible that Siri’s future will be compromised with this potential shift. Apple might need to significantly accelerate Siri’s development if users have access to better alternatives easily.
According to Bloomberg, AI startups such as DeepSeek could become competitors to openAI, anthropic, meta, and alphabet. Apple could either get rid of Siri or improve it under the pressure of competition.
Apple users may enjoy a future where the best AI experiences aren’t constrained by ecosystems. The EU may no longer be the only place in which Apple accepts voice assistants for its products.
What are the potential benefits of alternative voice assistants for me?
There are several benefits to using alternative voice assistants, including improved accuracy. A broader range of smart home devices can also be connected to them, and they offer more customization options as well.
Google Assistant and Alexa understand complex queries. The app integrates with more third-party apps, and it offers more flexibility than Siri.
Additionally, these alternatives provide better personalization and work across different device ecosystems.
