Siri vs. AI Chatbots

You might not believe it, but the original Siri demo was surprisingly close to the AI chatbots of today in reality. If you look back at the original 2011 demo before Apple acquired it, it was tool calling to Calendar, Maps and other apps—way ahead of its time.

Apple’s vision for Siri and Apple Intelligence—to me—is the right one. Deeply and tightly integrated AI is what we need. An invisible layer on top of our existing systems, not a chatbot we have to converse with to get things figured out.

Reflecting on Siri’s origins, it was groundbreaking in its ability to seamlessly integrate our apps and services into a single unified chat interface. This approach anticipated the future of AI chatbots, which today are the most common formats for engaging with AI services. Both Siri’s initial design and modern AI chatbots share a common goal: to enhance user experience by unobtrusively integrating intelligent capabilities into daily interactions. The thing is, chatbots do this in a way that feels familiar, but, not optimised for how we actually use our devices daily.

The challenge lies in creating AI systems that are both intelligent and unobtrusive. Siri’s founders achieved this by embedding AI functionalities within this chat interface which as the time was revolutionary. Similarly, today’s chatbots strive to provide value through these same exact mechanisms. In reality, we’ve barely moved in the past 14 years.

Apple’s vision for Siri is where I want things to head. By focusing on integration over standalone chatbots, Apple ensures that AI becomes an integral part of our lives, enhancing productivity and convenience. This philosophy not only aligns with real human needs but also addresses practical concerns about privacy and control, making AI more accessible and trustworthy through on-device models or private cloud compute.

By prioritising seamless integration and user-centric design, we can continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible, ensuring that AI enhances our lives without compromising the human touch.