Apple tests Siri feature to handle multiple commands at once in iOS 27 overhaul

Apple Tests Siri Feature That Handles Multiple Commands at Once

Apple Inc. is testing a feature that would let Siri process multiple requests in a single query, according to people familiar with the matter, breaking new ground for the nearly 15-year-old digital assistant. The company is developing the capability as part of the iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 operating systems due later this year, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the work is private. The move would bring Siri closer to the abilities of newer artificial intelligence assistants. The feature would let users combine requests -- for example, asking Siri to check the weather, create a calendar appointment and send a message -- all within a single prompt. Siri currently requires users to make requests individually, making it a laggard in the AI space. The work is part of a broader effort to overhaul and modernize Siri, which was first introduced in October 2011. Apple is aiming to turn the assistant into a more capable tool that can understand context, such as users' personal information and what's on their screen. The company is poised to unveil the new Siri and other Apple Intelligence features at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. It's been a long time coming. Apple first demonstrated a new, more AI-infused Siri in June 2024 -- before delaying its arrival multiple times due to engineering snags. The software is now on track for a release this fall, Bloomberg News has reported. A spokesperson for the Cupertino, California-based company declined to comment. As part of the changes, Apple is making Siri operate more like a chatbot and launching a standalone app for the assistant. The iPhone maker also is planning to allow the next version to access and summarize information from the web in an effort internally known as World Knowledge Answers. The latest development would streamline Siri interactions and potentially encourage customers to use it more as a time-saver. The assistant currently supports follow-up requests without requiring users to repeat the wake word -- "Siri" or "Hey Siri" -- but each action still needs to be handled separately. The ability to process multiple requests in a single query has become standard among modern AI assistants powered by large language models, including OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. And Google's voice assistant could handle such tasks dating back to the last decade. The capability is also pivotal to more advanced Siri upgrades in development, including features that rely on personal context and deeper app integration. It will let the assistant do things like retrieve a photo, edit it and send it to a contact in one command. Separately, Apple has explored an updated system keyboard that expands autocorrect by offering alternative words, the people said. It uses an approach that's similar to tools like Grammarly. A final decision on releasing the keyboard tool hasn't been made. The company improved its keyboard algorithms in iOS in recent days, aiming to provide a better autocorrect experience. Apple is also developing an update to the Siri Extensions function that will let the assistant tap into third-party services installed through the App Store, Bloomberg News reported last week. This goes beyond the current chatbot partnership with ChatGPT. In internal testing, some of the new Siri capabilities are labeled as "Preview," suggesting Apple may position them as unfinished at launch. Apple Intelligence debuted in 2024 in beta form -- the final stage of testing before software is formally released to customers. Siri itself was first introduced as a beta test, a phase that ended in 2013.

Apple tests Siri feature that handles multiple commands at once, Bloomberg News reports

March 31 (Reuters) - Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab is testing a feature that would let Siri process multiple requests in a single query, bringing the virtual assistant more in line with the capabilities of newer AI assistants, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday. The feature is being built into iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 operating systems, all of ⁠which are expected to launch later this year, Bloomberg said, citing people familiar with the matter. Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The iPhone maker has been readying an improved version of Siri, with technology from Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Gemini AI model, for release this year. Apple is expected to showcase the revamped Siri and new Apple Intelligence capabilities at its upcoming Worldwide ⁠Developers Conference on June 8. Siri's revamp is a crucial part of Apple's strategy to catch up to its Big Tech peers in the AI race after its initial Apple Intelligence rollout in 2024 met ⁠with lukewarm reception. According to a media report, Apple plans to turn Siri into its first artificial intelligence chatbot, code named Campos, which will be ⁠embedded deeply into the iPhone, iPad and Mac operating systems and will replace the current Siri interface. Apple is also looking ⁠to open Siri to rival AI services beyond its current partnership with ChatGPT, a media report said last week. Reporting by Juby Babu in Mexico City; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

New Siri multitasking upgrade detailed in latest iOS 27 report - 9to5Mac

Siri may not be any better in iOS 26.5 beta, but we're continuing to learn a lot more about iOS 27's version. Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg that Apple is developing an upgrade to Siri that will improve its multitasking abilities. The latest rumor highlights just how stagnant Siri has been over the years. As part of iOS 18, Apple improved Siri's ability to remember context between sequential requests. Siri in iOS 27 is expected to have actual persistent context, not just for back-to-back requests. Today's new detail covers Siri's ability to multitask. Gurman reports that Apple is developing the ability for Siri to parse and handle multiple requests from a single prompt. Per Bloomberg: The feature would let users combine requests -- for example, asking Siri to check the weather, create a calendar appointment and send a message -- all within a single prompt. Siri currently requires users to make requests individually, making it a laggard in the AI space. Siri once stood out as state-of-the-art technology for its ability to parse natural language commands. It had intelligence that enabled looser requirements than strict voice command technology before it. Still, Siri has never been able to handle much complexity. Adding multiple items to a shopping list in a single command is about as complex as it gets. It sounds like Siri's Gemini-powered upgrade will be a total makeover for Apple's voice assistant in iOS 27. From modern chatbot behavior to a standalone app, Siri could be the star of the show at WWDC in June.

iOS 27 Siri Update Will Let Users Make Multiple Requests at Once

The updated version of Siri that Apple plans to release in iOS 27 may be able to handle multiple commands in a single query, reports Bloomberg. With the feature, users would be able to make multi-step requests that Siri would carry out, such as getting directions to a location and then sending those directions to someone in a message. Siri has long been limited to a single command for most requests, and the personal assistant is not able to parse queries with multiple components. Siri can answer follow-up questions without being activated via wake word, but the requests still need to be separate. The ability to handle multiple requests will be part of the Apple Intelligence update that Apple has been working on since June 2024. Siri will have more personal context than before, will understand what's on the user's screen, and will be able to do more in and between apps. Siri will be able to access the web to summarize information, a feature that Apple could call World Knowledge Answers, and it may gain image generation capabilities with Image Playground integration. Apple is also testing an updated version of the keyboard that would integrate AI. The keyboard could suggest grammar fixes and alternative words in addition to fixing typos, but Apple hasn't decided on whether to include it in iOS 27. Apple plans to turn Siri into a chatbot that can compete with Claude, ChatGPT, and Gemini. Chatbots have no problem parsing natural language requests with multiple variables and actions that need to be completed. Apple is designing a standalone Siri app for chatbot interactions, but the personal assistant will be deeply integrated into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. The updated version of Siri will be part of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27, software updates that Apple plans to preview at WWDC. WWDC 2026 begins on June 8 with a keynote event. There's no word on whether the Siri features will be immediately available when Apple provides the first beta of iOS 27 to developers, or if it will take some time for the updates to roll out. Apple is planning to introduce the smarter version of Siri by September, but that doesn't mean that some features can't be held until an iOS 27 update next spring. As with some of the initial Apple Intelligence features, the new Siri capabilities will likely have a "Preview" label, indicating they are not finished.

Apple testing Siri feature to handle multiple requests at once By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) is testing a feature that would allow Siri to process multiple requests in a single query, according to a report from Bloomberg News, citing people familiar with the matter. The company is developing the capability as part of the iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS 27 operating systems due later this year, the people said. The feature would let users combine requests, such as asking Siri to check the weather, create a calendar appointment and send a message, all within a single prompt. Siri currently requires users to make requests individually. Apple is working to turn the assistant into a more capable tool that can understand context, including users' personal information and what's on their screen. The company plans to unveil the new Siri and other Apple Intelligence features at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. Apple has also explored an updated system keyboard that expands autocorrect by offering alternative words, the people said. This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.