Siri is good now??

Overview

On an episode of The Verge's Vergecast podcast, hosts David Pierce and Nilay Patel discuss their first experiences with Apple's new Siri AI, which they found to be surprisingly good after years of the assistant being unreliable. They argue that Siri AI does not feel advanced but works well enough at most tasks, which could be significant for users and the wider AI industry. The episode also covers changes in social networking and a lightning round of other tech news.

Key Takeaways

Apple released a new version of Siri, called Siri AI, that the hosts say actually works well at most things.
The hosts note that Siri AI does not feel bleeding-edge or brand new, but its reliability is what makes it notable.
Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube all announced features designed to make their large platforms feel smaller and more personal.
Group chats have been replacing public posts, raising the question of whether the era of the public Twitter-style feed is ending.
The episode's lightning round covered the Trump Phone, Claude Fable, solar energy, and a deal for iPad users.

Stats & Key Facts

#Siri has existed for roughly a decade and a half, per the host's description.
#Vergecast Hotline number: 866-VERGE11.

Siri AI Finally Works

The central topic is Apple's reworked assistant.

›Siri spent about 15 years ranging from somewhat useful to frequently unreliable, including basic tasks like setting a timer.
›Apple put out a new version of Siri, and the hosts say it now seems pretty good.
›The assistant is described as good enough at most things rather than notable.

The episode opens with the observation that you would be forgiven for thinking this day would never come. The hosts say Siri has spent a decade and a half somewhere between sort of useful at a few things and utterly disastrous, to the point of questioning whether it could honestly even set a timer.

David Pierce and Nilay Patel share their early experiences with Siri AI and what it means for users to have a built-in iPhone assistant that is good enough at most things. They suggest that an assistant that simply works could matter more than one packed with experimental features.

Why a Working Assistant Matters

Reliability, not novelty, is the headline.

›The hosts frame Siri AI's reliability as potentially important for the rest of the AI industry.
›A built-in assistant that handles most tasks could change how people use their phones.
›The discussion centers on practicality over novelty.

The episode argues that there is very little about Siri AI that feels bleeding-edge or brand new, but it works. The hosts say that might change everything, both for iPhone users and for how the rest of the AI industry thinks about built-in assistants.

The Changing Shape of Social Networks

The hosts move to social media trends.

›Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube each announced new features.
›The features aim to make huge ecosystems feel smaller and more personal.
›Group chats have been replacing public posts for a while.

After the Siri discussion, the hosts talk about the changing winds in social networking, noting that Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube all announced new features designed to make their huge ecosystems feel a little smaller and a lot more personal.

The conversation asks whether the era of the public Twitter feed is really over, given that group chats have been replacing public posts for a while now.

Lightning Round and Other Segments

The episode closes with fast-paced news.

›Segments included the Hype Desk and a segment titled Brendan Carr is a Dummy.
›The lightning round covered the Trump Phone, Claude Fable, and solar energy.
›It also mentioned a surprisingly good deal for iPad users.

The episode then turns to the Hype Desk, a segment titled Brendan Carr is a Dummy, and a lightning round filled with news about the Trump Phone, Claude Fable, solar energy, and a surprisingly good deal for iPad users.

Recent Vergecast Coverage

The show recaps related episodes.

›The team livestreamed initial reactions to WWDC.
›They covered Steve Jobs' career arc and legacy.
›They answered listener WWDC questions and discussed whether YouTubers are the future of movie theaters.

In case listeners missed it that week, the team also livestreamed their initial reactions to WWDC and went deep on Steve Jobs' career arc and legacy. They answered all of the listener WWDC questions that came in, and they tried to figure out whether YouTubers are the future of movie theaters.

The hosts invite listeners to share their thoughts on all of it. They can call the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11 or send an email to vergecast@theverge.com, and the show encourages listeners to subscribe so they do not miss an episode.

Who Hosts the Discussion

The episode is led by The Verge's regulars.

›David Pierce and Nilay Patel lead the Siri discussion.
›David Pierce is editor-at-large and a Vergecast co-host.
›He has more than a decade of experience covering consumer tech.

The episode is co-hosted by David Pierce, who is editor-at-large and a Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. He has previously worked at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired. He and Nilay Patel walk through their first days with Siri AI before moving on to social networks and the lightning round.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main news in this episode?

Apple released a new version of Siri called Siri AI, and the Vergecast hosts say it actually works well at most things after years of the assistant being unreliable.

Do the hosts think Siri AI is technically advanced?

No. They say there is very little about Siri AI that feels bleeding-edge or brand new, but it works, and that reliability is what stands out.

What social network changes are discussed?

Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube announced features meant to make their large ecosystems feel smaller and more personal, prompting a discussion of whether the public feed era is ending.

What other topics were in the lightning round?

The lightning round covered the Trump Phone, Claude Fable, solar energy, and a deal for iPad users.

How can listeners contact the show?

Listeners can call the Vergecast Hotline at 866-VERGE11 or email vergecast@theverge.com.

The Vergecast episode argues that a Siri that simply works reliably could matter more than one loaded with flashy new features.