Apple’s long-awaited Siri AI revamp is finally on its way to your devices, including phones, laptops, and even the Apple Vision Pro headset (if you’re one of the few using it). Announced at WWDC, these updates promise to transform Siri into a smarter, more proactive assistant. But as someone who’s skeptical about AI, I’m torn. On one hand, the idea of Siri becoming my personal Emily from The Devil Wears Prada—a second brain that anticipates my needs—is tempting. On the other, I’m wary of privacy implications and the idea of becoming overly reliant on AI.
Let’s start with the cool stuff. The new Siri aims to act as a constant companion, helping you manage conversations across multiple apps, reminding you of important tasks, and even contextualizing information based on what’s on your screen. For example, if you’re scrolling through Instagram and see a picture of a park, you can ask Siri to find its location. Or, if you need to recall a specific text message from a month ago, Siri can search through your conversations to find it.
This is all made possible by Siri’s ability to leverage 'personal context'—information from Apple-native apps like iMessage, Notes, Calendar, and more. Apple claims this data is processed securely, either on-device or through its private cloud compute (PCC) system, which keeps your information hidden even from Apple itself. While this sounds promising, it still means handing over a lot of personal data to make the system work effectively.
But here’s where things get tricky. While I’m intrigued by the convenience Siri promises, I’m not sure I want to become the kind of person who relies on AI for every little detail of my life. In a conversation with writer Calvin Kasulke, he pointed out that outsourcing 'life admin' to AI might make us lose important skills. Instead of asking Siri to remind me about a TV show recommendation from a friend, maybe I should just pay better attention during conversations.
There’s also the ethical side of AI. I’m not comfortable using AI to write for me, and I’m still skeptical about its ability to provide consistently accurate information. Plus, the idea of giving up more of my privacy to a tech giant—even one like Apple, which prioritizes security—feels like a big ask.
That said, Apple is giving users the option to toggle the new Siri features on or off, which is a step in the right direction compared to Google’s more invasive approach. This flexibility means I can dip my toes into the AI waters without fully committing.
So, will I give in to the temptation of Siri AI? It’s hard to say. The promise of a smarter, more helpful assistant is enticing, but the trade-offs—privacy, dependency, and the potential to lose touch with my own habits—give me pause. For now, I’ll keep an eye on Siri’s evolution and decide whether the forbidden fruit is worth the bite.