Apple is adding generative AI capabilities to Siri to allow the assistant to chat, summarize text, and perform tasks [1, 2].

The updates represent an effort to close a competitive gap. As rival chatbot services from Google, Microsoft, and various AI startups gain market share, Apple is attempting to resolve an internal AI crisis by modernizing its virtual assistant [1, 3].

Apple unveiled the details during its developer conference in Cupertino, California, on Monday [3, 4]. The company said it aims to shift Siri from a basic voice command tool into a more versatile generative AI service [2]. This transition allows the assistant to handle conversational queries and text processing in a manner similar to contemporary large language models [2, 3].

The push for integration follows the rise of agile competitors. For example, the AI startup Perplexity, which is nearly three years old [5], has attracted significant industry attention with its specialized search and chat capabilities. Apple's strategy focuses on integrating these advanced features into the existing Siri ecosystem rather than launching a separate product [2].

This overhaul comes as the company faces pressure to maintain its edge in the smartphone market. While some users have remained loyal to the ecosystem for 15 years [6], the demand for intuitive, generative AI has shifted user expectations across the industry [6]. By embedding these tools directly into the operating system, Apple seeks to leverage its massive installed base of devices to compete with standalone AI applications [1, 3].

“Apple is adding generative AI capabilities to Siri to allow the assistant to chat, summarize text, and perform tasks.”

Apple's move signals a transition from predictive AI to generative AI within its core OS. By integrating these features into Siri, the company is attempting to prevent user churn toward third-party AI apps and ensure that its hardware remains the primary gateway for AI interaction.