What is Siri
Siri is a virtual assistant that is part of Apple Inc.’s iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS operating systems. The assistant uses voice queries, gesture-based control, focus-tracking and a natural-language user interface to answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions by delegating requests to a set of Internet services. The software adapts to users’ individual language usages, searches, and preferences, and returned individualized results.
Siri is a spin-out from the SRI International Artificial Intelligence Center, and it`s also an offshoot of the US DARPA-funded CALO project. Kittlaus named Siri after a co-worker in Norway, and it means “beautiful woman who leads you to victory” in Norwegian.
SRI spun off Siri to bring the technology to consumers in 2007 and for the beginning, itâs started out as a text chat service, then added speech recognition engine through Nuance Communications, a speech technology company.
Siri was acquired by Apple Inc. in April 2010 under the direction of Steve Jobs. Before Apple Inc. bought it, Siri is an App in the iOS App Store, and is also in development for BlackBerry and Android, but after Apple completed the acquisition, it was removed from the App Store and canceled all development plans except for iOS on April 28, 2010. And then, Siri was then integrated into iPhone 4S at its release in October 2011.
How it Works
Upon receiving your request, Siri records the frequency and sound waves of your voice and converts them into code, it then breaks down to identify specific patterns, phrases and keywords to determine whether the required information can be retrieved from the phone’s database or online server. Once confirmed, it starts performing the task and returns a response.
How ‘Hey Siri’ works with multiple devices
There are two ways to wake up Siri. One is through a button on an Apple device, which varies depending on the device’s button design. On the iPhone 8, for example, it starts by pressing the Home Button, but the iPhone X doesn’t have a Home Button, it uses the Side Button instead.
Use Siri on all your Apple devices
The second way to wake up Siri by speak “Hey Siri” to enable the assistant without the requirement of physically handling the device.
Voice of Siri
The original American voice of Siri was provided in July 2005 by Susan Bennett, unaware that it would eventually be used for the voice assistant. Unfortunately, you cannot change Siri’s name. However, you can change the gender of Siri’s voice to male, give her a British, South African, Irish, Indian or Australian accent.
Siriâ?can even speak to you in a different language. It`s currently in more than 37 countries/regions, with a list available on Apple’s website. The languages that work with the Translate app are more limited and include Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.
Command
You can ask Siri to turn on lights, adjust the thermostat, and control the products that you use in your home.
Siri knows which HomeKit accessories are set up in the Home app as well as their status. Siri identifies your accessories by their names, location, and other details that you’ve added to them in the Home app.
Some list of Siri commands:
Turn accessories on or off
From lights to appliances, Siri can turn your HomeKit accessories on or off.
“Hey Siri, turn on the lights.”
Adjust an accessory
- Siri can adjust some HomeKit accessories, like lights or a thermostat.
- “Hey Siri, set the temperature to 68 degrees.”
- “Hey Siri, make the lights blue in the bedroom.”
Control a room or zone
If you organize your accessories by room or zone, you can control areas of your house with a single command.
- “Hey Siri, turn off the lights downstairs.”
- “Hey Siri, turn on the fan in the office.”
Check your home’s status
In bed and want to know if you left the lights on downstairs? Siri knows.
- “Hey Siri, are the lights on downstairs?”
- “Hey Siri, is my garage door open?”
Control your accessories remotely
If you have a home hub set up, you can ask Siri to control your home while you’re away.
- “Hey Siri, lock the front door.”
- “Hey Siri, arm my security system.”
Make a call
- “Hey Siri, call Mom.”
- “Hey Siri, call Vivek’s mobile on speakerphone.”
Send a message
- “Hey Siri, send a message to Ming Lu.”
- “Hey Siri, text Adrian and Sofia, ‘Where are you?'”
Shortcuts
On September 19, 2019, with the public launch of iOS 13, the Shortcuts became a default app installed on all iOS 13 devices, you can trigger it through the app, shortcut widgets, the share sheet, and Siri.
Run shortcuts with Siri, the Shortcuts app, or Siri Suggestions
Siri Device
Siri has been available on Apple`s devices since 2012 except for some very old ones, but there are differences between iOS versions of Siri because the versions of the device.
| OS version | Model | |
| iPhone | iOS 5 and later | iPhone 4S and later |
| iPad | iOS 5 and later, iPadOS all version | iPad 3rd Gen (2012) and later |
| iPod touch | iOS 5 and later | iPod touch 5th Gen and later |
| Mac | macOS Sierra (version 10.12) and later | Model after 2010 Late |
| Apple TV | TvOS all version | 4th Gen (2015) and later |
| Apple Watch | WatchOS all version | All model |
| Home Pod | All model |
Language
How to change the voice and language that Siri uses?
On iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
Go to Settings > Siri & Search.
Tap Language to change the language that Siri uses for requests and responses.
Tap Siri Voice to change the gender or dialect that Siri speaks.
To hear spoken responses from Siri on your device, tap Voice Feedback, then choose from the following:
- Always On: Siri will speak responses, even when your ring switch is set to silent.
- Control with Ring Switch: Siri silences all spoken responses when the ring switch is set to silent. You will still hear a beep when you use Siri and hear voice feedback when you use “Hey Siri,” or when you are connected to a Bluetooth device, headphones, or CarPlay.
- Hands-Free Only: Siri will only beep and speak responses when you use “Hey Siri,” or when you are connected to a Bluetooth device, headphones, or CarPlay.
On Mac
If you have a Mac with macOS Sierra or later, go to Apple (� menu > System Preferences, then click Siri. From here, you can choose the following:
- Language: Change the language that Siri will use for requests and responses.
- Siri Voice: Change the gender or dialect that Siri speaks.
- Voice Feedback: Turn on to hear spoken responses from Siri. If you turn this off, you wonât hear a spoken response but will see Siriâs response in the Siri window.
On Apple Watch
Siri uses the same language and voice on your Apple Watch that’s set up on your iPhone. On Apple Watch Series 3 or later, you can have Siri speak responses. On your Apple Watch, go to Settings > General > Siri. Under Voice Feedback, choose from the following:
- Always On: Siri speaks responses, even when your Apple Watch is set to Silent Mode.
- Control With Silent Mode: Siri silences all spoken responses when your Apple Watch is set to Silent Mode.
- Headphones Only: Siri only speaks responses when your Apple Watch is connected to Bluetooth headphones.
On your Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD
Siri uses the same language you set up on your Apple TV 4K or Apple TV HD. To change the language Siri uses, go to Settings > General > Siri, then select Language.
Siri doesnât talk on Apple TV but will process your request and display the results on your screen.
Country/Region available
Siri availability and features vary by language, country and region, please refer to the list below to learn which Siri features are supported in which countries and regions on iOS, Mac, watchOS, and Apple TV.
| Country/Region | iOS/ipadOS | watchOS | macOS | Apple TV |
| Australia | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Austria | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Belgium | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Brazil | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Canada | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Chile | Y | Y | N | N |
| China mainland | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Denmark | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Finland | Y | Y | Y | N |
| France | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Germany | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Hong Kong | Y | Y | Y | N |
| India | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Ireland | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Israel | Y | Y | N | N |
| Italy | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Japan | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Korea | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Malaysia | Y | Y | N | N |
| Mexico | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Netherlands | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| New Zealand | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Norway | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Russia | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Saudi Arabia | Y | Y | N | N |
| Singapore | Y | Y | Y | N |
| South Africa | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Korea | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Spain | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Sweden | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Switzerland | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Taiwan | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Thailand | Y | Y | Y | N |
| Turkey | Y | Y | Y | N |
| United Arab Emirates | Y | Y | Y | N |
| United Kingdom | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| United States | Y | Y | Y | Y |