I’m out hiking in San Francisco, testing the beta version of Apple’s newly revamped voice assistant, Siri AI, as fog envelops the Golden Gate Bridge behind me. I’m cold and craving something warm, so I pull out my iPhone and ask Siri where I can find some nice fluffy pancakes nearby. After a few moments, it suggests a spot called Eats in the Inner Richmond.
This new iteration of Siri has been in the works for a while but was announced formally during Apple’s developer conference as part of iOS 27. It’s evidently more conversational, integrated, and better at grasping user needs compared to the old Siri.
Curious about Siri AI’s potential as a travel guide, I decided to test its capabilities while exploring the city.
A Fresh Start
The evolution of Siri stands out, moving from a limited experience to one that integrates smoothly into the iPhone search bar. Users can engage in a chat with the assistant and swipe down to dig deeper into responses. The new replies tend to be concise, and when I asked for a beach hike at dawn near the bridge, Siri promptly recommended trails in the Presidio and Marin Headlands, highlighting key information for easier reading.
A partnership between Apple and Google is pivotal to this overhaul, harnessing Google’s Gemini to enhance Siri’s foundational model, Apple Intelligence. This collaboration ensures Siri intuitively connects with users by referencing information from recent messages, photos, and emails.
Siri’s hyper-personalization capability means it learns from your device’s data, alongside allowing connections to services beyond Apple’s ecosystem, like Meta’s Messenger.
Exploring Hikes
I began my itinerary with the Golden Gate Bridge, known for its stunning trails. Using the iPhone’s camera app, I took a photo of the foggy path ahead. Without asking specific questions, I simply showed Siri the snapshot. The assistant responded with a short history of the nearby Cypress Tree Tunnel—a location that turned out to be an hour away, leading to a slight confusion.
Despite minor inaccuracies, I was impressed by Siri’s ability to sift through past photos. For example, when I asked for images from my last trip to Costa Rica, it successfully pulled up relevant pictures.
Satisfying My Cravings
Next were those fluffy pancakes. Siri AI presented two brunch options, complete with maps and reviews. I opted for the cozier atmosphere of one venue, despite its steep prices. On my way, I tested Siri’s functionality further by asking it to take a selfie. It performed this task well, setting a countdown and capturing my photo. When I attempted to text the image to my partner, Siri struggled a bit with dictation but eventually got the message across.
A Visit to the Sea Lions
After filling up with pancakes, I felt like a sea lion from Fisherman’s Wharf and inquired if there were any present at this time of year. Siri replied that while it was the offseason, a few sea lions would still be around. At the Wharf, I observed the animals while querying Siri for facts about their habitat. It provided accurate information, including historical details sourced from Wikipedia and links for deeper exploration.
This day demonstrated just a fraction of Siri AI’s potential. Apple aims to position the assistant at the heart of its device ecosystem, propelling users towards a more automated and intuitive experience.
Siri AI represents the voice assistant of the future that Apple has long promised. While the integration looks promising, it remains to be seen if users will alter their typical smartphone usage. I’m eager to find out.
