Siri is an advanced digital Voice Assistant integrated into Apple Inc.'s ecosystem of devices, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and HomePod. Siri was introduced by Apple on October 4, 2011, as part of the iOS 5 update, marking a significant step in personal assistant technology for mobile devices.
Siri was originally developed by a startup named Siri Inc., which was founded by Dag Kittlaus, Adam Chew, and Norman Winarsky. The company was acquired by Apple in April 2010 for a reported $200 million. Before the acquisition, Siri was available as a standalone app for iOS devices.
Siri's capabilities are powered by a combination of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and natural language processing. Here are some of the technologies involved:
Siri's database includes a wide range of information from news, weather updates, to entertainment options, which it uses to fulfill user requests. Apple has also implemented privacy measures to ensure that user data is handled securely, with options for users to control what data Siri can access.
Siri has had a profound cultural impact by popularizing the concept of voice-activated personal assistants. It has been featured in various media, including TV shows and movies, often as a comedic element due to its sometimes quirky or human-like responses.
Since its launch, Siri has undergone numerous updates to enhance its functionality: