Apple makes Siri smarter, improves software
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple is working to make its iPhone and other gadgets smarter, responding to competitors’ recent moves by building more artificial intelligence into its Siri digital assistant, photos, maps and other online services.
The tech giant kicked off its annual software conference by announcing new software features for the Apple Watch and Apple TV, as well, while unveiling a new design for the Apple Music service. It’s also extending Apple Pay to the web, so users can pay for purchases made on their Mac computers. Most of these new features won’t arrive until this fall.
At a time when sales of its flagship iPhone are slowing, Apple seemed determined to show that it can make its gadgets indispensable, or at least as useful as its competitors’ products.
Apple’s wise-cracking digital assistant will play a larger role in the company’s products. Apple announced Siri will be coming to Mac desktop and laptop computers, where it can locate files and perform other feats. Siri will also gain new capabilities with Apple TV, where it will let you launch live TV viewing with voice command and search YouTube and the iTunes store for videos.
Perhaps more important, Apple is letting Siri work with applications made by other companies. The change will open up new ways for Siri to help iPhone owners get things done quickly.
Apple’s AI improvements aren’t restricted to Siri. An update to the iMessage app, for instance, will rely on machine learning to automatically suggest appropriate emoji to place alongside texts. It will also show graphics and thumbnails of the information contained in a web link and automatically play online videos when they’re opened by a recipient.
Apple’s photo app will also get smarter. It’s adding the ability to analyze an individual’s photo library and group photos by people, locations or other subjects, automatically assembling them into albums and short movies. It’s similar to a feature that Google has offered users of its photo app, but with some new frills, like the ability to adjust the length of the album or select different kinds of theme music.