Siri Could Get Generative AI and More at WWDC 2024

A new report claims that Apple will unveil a new version of Siri using generative artificial intelligence (AI) technology at Apple’s 2024 Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC), which traditionally takes place in June.

The new rumor also claims that the technology will not only be used locally on iPhones but also be integrated into other Apple services.

While Apple has not yet released any artificial intelligence tools to compete with ChatGPT, it has reportedly spent as much as $1 billion in adding AI features to Siri. The rumored investment comes in the wake of the AI becoming a priority for several firms in the last few years.

Leaker yeux1122 published a post on the South Korean blog Naver saying there has been “recent progress on applying generative AI to Apple Siri.”

Generated AI version of Siri on Apple’s Ajax-based model [will be] announced at WWDC. [It will add] more personalization and natural conversation to Siri… [and] efficient management of various Apple iPhone, etc.(Apple translation)

yeux1122 also claims that “various external service-to-service” features will be unveiled at WWDC, while “some services or features differ between subscription services.”

The leaker did not specify whether they were referring to Apple’s own services, or to Apple’s training of Siri using news publishers and other third-party services.

Leaker yeux1122 has a hit-or-miss track record when it comes to predictions. They once posted that Apple had disbanded its internal 5G modem development team, whether it was because Apple gave up on the development of its own modem chips or because the project had reached completion.

Apple paid $1 billion to acquire Intel’s modem business back in 2019 and has been working ever since to develop its own 5G modems to replace Qualcomm’s 5G modems it currently uses in its devices.

In July, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is working on its own “Apple GPT” artificial intelligence project to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. Gurman said AI development had become a priority at Apple, as chatbot services and AI functions in apps have grown rapidly over the last few months, driving Apple’s development of AI technology.

Gurman said his sources told him that Apple has developed an “Ajax” framework for large language models like ChatGPT.

Meanwhile, in August, Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the Cupertino company is significantly lagging behind its competitors in the generative AI technology department, while also saying there was no indication that the firm had any plans to launch AI services during 2024.

In May, Apple CEO Tim Cook said there are a “number of issues that need to be sorted” with AI, and that it’s important to be “deliberate and thoughtful” in the development approach. Cook’s comments were made during Apple’s May earnings call. Cook also said that Apple views artificial intelligence as “huge,” and has plans to “continue weaving it in products on a very thoughtful basis.”

In a June interview with Good Morning America, Cook said that he uses ChatGPT and that the technology is something that the company is “looking at closely.”

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]