Later this fall, Apple will ship a brand new Siri, powered by Apple Intelligence, in iOS 18.1. The revamped digital assistant will get a number of new features that will hopefully make it smarter than ever. But according to a new report, Apple is working on another AI “personality.” This other personality, which is completely independent of Siri, is being developed for future Apple robotic devices.

The next generation of Siri is not next generation enough for Apple’s robotics

When Apple Intelligence arrives in iOS 18.1, it will enable the first experience with a new and improved Siri.

But Apple’s work on the digital assistant is just beginning. Many of Siri’s most powerful new features aren’t expected to be available until sometime in 2025.

Despite all the promises of this up-and-coming Siri, Mark Gurman at Bloomberg reports that Apple is already developing an alternative personality.

The news comes in a longer article describing Apple’s efforts in robotics.

Gurman writes in his Turn on Newsletters:

A key part of robot work is creating a personality. While Siri is the digital assistant on Apple’s current devices, the company is working on another human-like interface based on generative AI. It could run on the tabletop product and other future Apple robotic devices, I’m told.

This paragraph raises a number of interesting questions about the future of Siri:

• Why do Apple’s robotics products need their own personality?
• Will the generative AI that powers this new personality be more advanced than Siri’s?
• could this next-generation project ultimately just be called Siri?

Since Apple’s first robotics projects are not expected until 2026 or 2027, it is far too early to answer these questions.

9to5Mac’s opinion

This report is confusing to say the least. I can’t imagine Apple developing a brand new assistant for its new products, even robotic devices. If Apple wanted to ditch the Siri branding, it probably would have done so by now with the launch of Apple Intelligence.

A personality for Apple robotics devices would obviously have to be able to do different things than Siri can now. But does that justify a whole new name and brand? I’m skeptical.

Do you think Apple should develop a new AI personality for future products? Or is it best to stick with Siri? Let us know in the comments.