Siri AI: Apple's Assistant Tested Against ChatGPT and Gemini

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Key Takeaways

1Siri AI is in beta for developers, accessible on a waitlist via compatible devices.

2Despite improvements, Siri AI continues to exhibit errors and conversational limitations.

3Apple has until September to refine Siri AI before its public release, hoping to meet user expectations.

💡Why it matters — The evolution of Siri AI is crucial for Apple to remain competitive against AI assistants like ChatGPT and Gemini.

Siri AI: A New Era Announced at WWDC 2026

At the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference, WWDC 2026, the Cupertino company unveiled its new version of Siri, integrating advanced artificial intelligence. This announcement has generated significant interest, particularly among iPhone and Mac users, who, like the author of this article, have often expressed frustrations with the limitations of the previous version of Siri. Expectations are therefore high for this new iteration.

Accessing the New Siri AI: A Rocky Road

To experience this new Siri AI, users must navigate several steps. First, Siri AI is available in beta for developers, but only on a waitlist and on compatible devices. It is imperative that their device, whether it is an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, is compatible with version 27 of the operating system and supports Apple Intelligence. A detailed article titled "Will Your iPhone Support Siri AI? The Answer is Complicated" provides a guide to check device eligibility.

Next, installing the beta version for developers is necessary. Given that these versions can be unstable, it is highly recommended to install them on a secondary device. The author personally uses an iPhone 15 Pro and a MacBook Air M1 for testing. To join the waitlist, users simply need to go to the device's Settings, enable Siri, and wait for the availability notification. The author noted a one-week wait for their iPhone but was able to access Siri quickly on their Mac.

Using Siri AI on Mac: First Impressions

Once access to Siri AI is obtained, users can activate the voice assistant by saying "Hey Siri" or simply "Siri," or by clicking on the Siri AI app icon in the Dock. Several interaction methods are offered:

By double-clicking the Command key, a text window opens to ask questions to Siri.
The Command and spacebar combination launches the Spotlight search window, where Siri can be requested for searches.
A right-click on an item offers the option Ask Siri.

The author tested Siri AI by asking various questions, requesting to find files on the computer, and engaging in deeper conversations.

Testing and Performance of Siri AI

Recent News: Siri AI, like ChatGPT and Gemini, provides concise and direct answers. When asked for the latest news, it offers a quick overview, positioning itself more as an assistant than as a chatty interlocutor.
Fall of the Roman Empire: In response to this historical question, Siri AI provides a succinct explanation with listed causes, accompanied by links to consulted sources.
Choosing a Laptop: With a budget of $2,000 and specific criteria, Siri AI directs the user to articles and publications without giving a personal recommendation. After insistence, it ultimately provides a more comprehensive answer.
Calendar Management: Siri AI accurately displays the user's appointments for the following week after consulting the calendar.
Photo Search: When asked to find specific photos, Siri AI only manages to identify three out of six, raising questions about its search criteria.
Settings Control: Siri AI effectively activates and deactivates Do Not Disturb mode upon request.
Artwork Identification: Analyzing an image of Toulouse-Lautrec, Siri AI initially fails but succeeds with a work by Van Gogh.
Pet Advice: Siri AI offers advice for a difficult cat, although the conversation lacks fluidity, requiring repeated manual interactions.
Article Summaries on Screen: The precise formulation of requests is essential for obtaining satisfactory summaries of articles displayed on the screen.
Conversation Management: Siri AI allows users to track, rename, pin, or delete past conversations, synchronized across all of the user's Apple devices.

Provisional Conclusion: Progress but Expectations

The new version of Siri AI represents an advancement over its predecessors, but it is not without flaws. Inaccurate responses and limited conversational fluidity are still disappointing. Apple must therefore improve the accuracy and flow of conversation in Siri AI. However, this version is just an initial step, and Apple has several months to enhance Siri AI before its public release scheduled for September.