Apple is reportedly working on a major AI-powered overhaul of its voice assistant Siri, aiming to make it more conversational and capable of handling complex requests using advanced large language models. This initiative, internally dubbed "Siri LLM," is part of Apple's strategy to compete with AI services like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini. The new Siri is being tested on iPhones, iPads, and Macs, with a potential unveiling planned for next year as part of iOS 19 and MacOS 16, although a full rollout may take longer.
Amazon is exploring partnerships with companies like Uber, Ticketmaster, and Instacart to enhance its AI-powered Alexa, aiming to transform it into a comprehensive personal assistant capable of handling tasks such as ride-hailing, grocery shopping, and restaurant reservations. The initiative, internally known as Banyan or Remarkable Alexa, seeks to integrate these partners as primary service providers, distinct from existing Alexa Skills. Despite challenges like latency and inaccuracy, Amazon plans to onboard around 200 partners within three years, hoping to revitalize interest in Alexa with this AI upgrade.
OpenAI has launched an official ChatGPT app for Mac, bringing iPhone functionality to the desktop with features like a system-wide keyboard shortcut for instant access and support for Shortcuts. Users can now easily set up and use ChatGPT for various tasks, including voice conversations, enhancing the Mac's voice assistant capabilities. The app is still rolling out to all users.
OpenAI's ChatGPT may soon become a default voice assistant on Android devices, challenging Google Assistant's current dominance. Code within the latest ChatGPT app version hints at this development, with the potential for users to activate ChatGPT system-wide using voice commands. Although the feature is not yet fully implemented, the discovery indicates active development by OpenAI. This move could intensify competition in the AI voice assistant market, especially with Google planning to integrate Bard into Google Assistant and Microsoft releasing a Copilot app for Android. The timeline for ChatGPT's integration as a default Android assistant remains uncertain, but it promises to offer users more options for AI-powered assistance on their devices.
OpenAI's ChatGPT is being developed to support Android's assistant APIs, potentially allowing Android users to replace Google Assistant with ChatGPT as their system-wide voice assistant. The new feature would enable ChatGPT to be launched via voice commands and system gestures, and it could even respond to an always-on voice hotword if it were to be included as a bundled system application by an Android manufacturer. While still under development and not guaranteed for final release, this move could offer a significant alternative to Google Assistant, especially for search-related queries, although it may lack the app ecosystem for tasks like managing notes and reminders. Google, meanwhile, is working on enhancing its own Assistant with generative AI and developing a new assistant named "Pixie" for future Pixel devices.
Hey Disney!, the custom voice assistant created for Walt Disney resort locations, can now be added to select Amazon Echo devices in the US for a fee. Hey Disney! is the first Alexa custom assistant to be made available for home use, providing an array of Disney, Pixar, and Star Wars character voices as well as Disney-flavored responses to things like weather reports, timers, and alarms. Hey Disney! is included as a part of the Amazon Kids Plus subscription or can be purchased as a $5.99 annual, auto-renewing subscription from the Alexa skills store.
