Apple's Siri AI: A Modest Yet Promising Step Against Gemini

Siri AI: A New Attempt by Apple to Win Over Users

iPhone users, especially parents, have long hoped that Siri could simplify their daily lives by easily adding events to their calendars. With the latest update to Siri, this expectation might finally be met. Indeed, Apple's new voice assistant is now capable of integrating a list of events directly from an email.

After a rocky start, Apple decided to give Siri another chance by equipping it with more advanced artificial intelligence. Now, Siri can not only discuss various topics like gardening issues but also create shopping lists and set reminders for specific tasks. By relying on the information contained in your emails and calendar, Siri can provide relevant answers to questions such as "When should I leave for the airport?" I was able to test these features and see their effectiveness. This time, Siri seems much more refined.

A Basic AI Assistant Facing Competition

Although these new features are a step forward for Siri, they remain relatively basic for an AI assistant in 2026. In comparison, Gemini, Google's chatbot on Android, has already integrated similar functionalities for several years. For example, Gemini can add multiple events from a simple screenshot and diagnose plant problems for some time now. The fact that Siri is based on Gemini models explains why this version seems similar to what Gemini offered in 2025.

However, Siri AI stands out with its unique approach. Apple uses proprietary technologies and a private cloud to process data. Siri relies on the information available on the device, such as emails and messages, to provide tailored responses. Queries requiring additional data are processed through Apple's Private Cloud, ensuring the confidentiality of personal information. In contrast, Gemini accesses information sources directly, such as Gmail or the calendar, based on user preferences.

Promising Contextual Understanding

The effectiveness of Siri AI largely depends on its ability to understand context. So far, the results are encouraging. For example, when I asked Siri when I should return rented photo equipment for WWDC, it found the information in my calendar and emails. Similarly, when I asked it to add events to my calendar, Siri was able to reference the relevant information displayed on the screen.

I did not try to push Siri to its limits, but the safeguards seem robust enough to avoid inappropriate responses. Compared to Gemini, Siri is more direct and less empathetic. When asked why flowers seem to be wilting, Siri provides a concise and precise answer, while Gemini first expresses sympathy before explaining possible causes.

Basic but Effective Features

Siri AI also responded well to my follow-up requests. For example, when I asked it to recommend a nearby gardening center, it provided a relevant suggestion. It also created a reminder list and added an event to my calendar from a single request. While these tasks are basic, the fact that Siri executes them correctly represents a significant advancement for Apple.

On the iPhone, Siri is now omnipresent. By swiping down on the home screen, a prompt to "search or ask" appears, and a long press on the wake button activates Siri via Dynamic Island. These subtle improvements enhance Siri's presence within the Apple ecosystem.

A Step Towards Regaining User Trust

This version of Siri resembles an AI assistant designed not to disappoint. Although it cannot yet perform complex tasks like food delivery, it fulfills the promised functions. For Apple, which had made many promises with Siri without delivering, this is a major challenge. "It works" and "It will actually be delivered to customers" are the goals Apple needed to achieve. Currently in beta for developers, this update to Siri is more tangible than previous attempts. Apple hopes to regain user trust, and the initial results seem promising.