Apple predicted to expand Siri integration to additional third-party apps

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
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Engineers and industry insiders expect Apple to announce an expansion of Siri services at its Worldwide Developer Conference next week that will allow the virtual assistant to interact with more third-party apps, according to a report on Friday.




Apple initially opened Siri up to developers with specialized App Extensions in iOS 10. Announced at WWDC 2016, SiriKit APIs cover a specific set of functions currently limited to messaging, payments, ride booking, photo search, fitness and automotive infotainment apps.

At this year's developers conference, insiders predict Apple will expand Siri access beyond the six app categories, Reuters reports. Like past initiatives, Apple is thought to take a "go slow" approach with the rumored Siri enhancements, perhaps adding a few more categories to the list.

Currently, users can ask Siri to hail an Uber or control fitness tracking software, but are unable to make purchases ala Amazon's Alexa assistant. Apple Pay integration was, in fact, rumored for integration as far back as last year, though Apple has yet to implement its payments product as a SiriKit option.

The exact nature of Siri's supposed augmentations is unclear, and the report is based on conjecture. Apple is, however, likely planning an answer to competing virtual assistants like Alexa, which has grown in popularity thanks to integration with home speakers like Echo.

Apple is also rumored to be working on a dedicated Siri speaker that could debut alongside the expected Siri enhancements. Recent reports have indicated that Apple is only now starting production of the device, suggesting it will hit store shelves sometime later this year.

Siri is just one of many software products ripe for upgrade at WWDC 2017. If the virtual assistant is slated for enhancement in iOS 11 as reported, Apple will likely unveil changes in a keynote scheduled for Monday, June 5 at 10 a.m. Pacific. As usual, AppleInsider will be offering live coverage and analysis from the event

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 10
    mattinozmattinoz Posts: 2,316member
    This has been confirmed by Apple at the release of the Siri API at WWDC2016.
    They said something along the lines of "And we will expand the functions avalible to developers each year"
  • Reply 2 of 10
    SoliSoli Posts: 10,035member
    mattinoz said:
    This has been confirmed by Apple at the release of the Siri API at WWDC2016.
    They said something along the lines of "And we will expand the functions avalible to developers each year"
    Growth of SiriKit was expected, but this sounds more inline with being standalone apps, like Amazon Skills, over SiriKit offering a some much needed extensions for App Store apps, which would make sense if they will be offering a "Siri Home" device.

    edited June 2017
  • Reply 3 of 10
    rogifan_newrogifan_new Posts: 4,297member
    Let me guess this won't include Spotify or other music apps.
  • Reply 4 of 10
    SoliSoli Posts: 10,035member
    rogifan_new said:
    Let me guess this won't include Spotify or other music apps.
    Don't Google and Amazon offer music services while allowing Spotify and others on their home-based personal digital assistants? I really can't imagine not allowing Spotify, especially since it works so well on iOS.
  • Reply 5 of 10
    shapetablesshapetables Posts: 201member
    Google gave away an "AIY kit" (including a hardware module) with a popular Raspberry Pi magazine that sold out several printings over a couple of weeks ago. The idea is that kids can integrate Google's version of Siri into their pet robots, bicycles, etc. During the holidays last year, Amazon couldn't even keep its Echo line of products in stock and that came a few weeks after it opened up the core of Alexa (called Lex) to third party developers. These services have entered the pop culture now (like Siri) and these most recent initiatives allow for the integration of the Google and Amazon services into all manner of consumer and enterprise devices. Pretty neat, eh?

    At the same time, Apple managed to really waste hundreds of thousands of hours of developers time since June 2016 by having them review the useless new SiriKit docs that essentially describe what remains a very closed system (unless you're in payments, instant messaging, ride sharing, or a handful of other obscure "domains"). They also locked down the Siri protocol further so that those who had setup proxy servers to intercept the Siri commands and control their homes or what not, suddenly lost all of their time investment. What is being talked about now is that Apple is rumored to be expanding the number of domains that they authorize in the SiriKit. Maybe they will even open something akin to Amazon AppStore's new "Alexa Skills" section. But "Siri, Ask For a Fart"? Nah. "Siri, what is my front bike tire pressure?" No way (unless someone is paying Apple somehow for a license and/or distribution).
    edited June 2017
  • Reply 6 of 10
    Rayz2016Rayz2016 Posts: 6,957member
    rogifan_new said:
    Let me guess this won't include Spotify or other music apps.
    This is an API so it is up to the developers to add support, not Apple. 
    Soli
  • Reply 7 of 10
    foggyhillfoggyhill Posts: 4,767member
    shapetables said:
    Google gave away an "AIY kit" (including a hardware module) with a popular Raspberry Pi magazine that sold out several printings over a couple of weeks ago. The idea is that kids can integrate Google's version of Siri into their pet robots, bicycles, etc. During the holidays last year, Amazon couldn't even keep its Echo line of products in stock and that came a few weeks after it opened up the core of Alexa (called Lex) to third party developers. These services have entered the pop culture now (like Siri) and these most recent initiatives allow for the integration of the Google and Amazon services into all manner of consumer and enterprise devices. Pretty neat, eh?

    At the same time, Apple managed to really waste hundreds of thousands of hours of developers time since June 2016 by having them review the useless new SiriKit docs that essentially describe what remains a very closed system (unless you're in payments, instant messaging, ride sharing, or a handful of other obscure "domains"). They also locked down the Siri protocol further so that those who had setup proxy servers to intercept the Siri commands and control their homes or what not, suddenly lost all of their time investment. What is being talked about now is that Apple is rumored to be expanding the number of domains that they authorize in the SiriKit. Maybe they will even open something akin to Amazon AppStore's new "Alexa Skills" section. But "Siri, Ask For a Fart"? Nah. "Siri, what is my front bike tire pressure?" No way (unless someone is paying Apple somehow for a license and/or distribution).
    Yet, Echo sold 1/4 of what the watch sold during the same amount of time, and all those things your talking probably made next to ZERO dollars for the develloppers.
    Is developing some hobby work? Seems doing something half baked for the nerds is all it takes to be "cool" (sic) these days.
  • Reply 8 of 10
    dachardachar Posts: 330member
    shapetables said:
    Google gave away an "AIY kit" (including a hardware module) with a popular Raspberry Pi magazine that sold out several printings over a couple of weeks ago. 

  • Reply 9 of 10
    k2kwk2kw Posts: 2,075member
    shapetables said:
    Google gave away an "AIY kit" (including a hardware module) with a popular Raspberry Pi magazine that sold out several printings over a couple of weeks ago. The idea is that kids can integrate Google's version of Siri into their pet robots, bicycles, etc. During the holidays last year, Amazon couldn't even keep its Echo line of products in stock and that came a few weeks after it opened up the core of Alexa (called Lex) to third party developers. These services have entered the pop culture now (like Siri) and these most recent initiatives allow for the integration of the Google and Amazon services into all manner of consumer and enterprise devices. Pretty neat, eh?

    At the same time, Apple managed to really waste hundreds of thousands of hours of developers time since June 2016 by having them review the useless new SiriKit docs that essentially describe what remains a very closed system (unless you're in payments, instant messaging, ride sharing, or a handful of other obscure "domains"). They also locked down the Siri protocol further so that those who had setup proxy servers to intercept the Siri commands and control their homes or what not, suddenly lost all of their time investment. What is being talked about now is that Apple is rumored to be expanding the number of domains that they authorize in the SiriKit. Maybe they will even open something akin to Amazon AppStore's new "Alexa Skills" section. But "Siri, Ask For a Fart"? Nah. "Siri, what is my front bike tire pressure?" No way (unless someone is paying Apple somehow for a license and/or distribution).
    With an estimated 10 million echo/dots to be sold this year in a few Countries Amazon has a pretty good hit on its hand.

    Apple really needs to get a competing product out that equals or surpasses Alexa.   Apple just can't have a very good speaker (as nice as that would be).    They need a product where SIRI performs better than Alexa (full disclosure its rare where Siri doesn't respond with s__t for me like many millions of others who tried it because of all the commercials and find it a gimmick or joke).   Otherwise it will be a case of "The emporer has no clothes" failure.    Apple needs to respond to this because Amazon is a greater threat to Apple than Google.   
  • Reply 10 of 10
    shapetablesshapetables Posts: 201member
    foggyhill said:
    Yet, Echo sold 1/4 of what the watch sold during the same amount of time, and all those things your talking probably made next to ZERO dollars for the develloppers.
    Their revenue likely won't come from the Alexa integration itself (zero people will pay for software these days, even multi-billion dollar corporations and governments), but rather from the profit off the service are integrating Alexa with. If Apple does a Siri "domains" section in AppStore...

    foggyhill said:
    Is developing some hobby work? Seems doing something half baked for the nerds is all it takes to be "cool" (sic) these days.
    Yeah, developing is more akin to art (the ultimate hobby) in that respect. That some developers became "nerds" rather was likely a social reaction to being abused by those being raised for other purposes.
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