Apple might be changing the 'Hey Siri' wake word on your iPhone

Date:
Mon, 07 Nov 2022 12:31:04 +0000

Description:
Apple reportedly wants to drop the 'Hey Siri' wake phrase and replace it with just 'Siri', though the change might be a while away.

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Apple wants to make asking Siri a question a little easier by removing the need to say Hey Siri it's reportedly planning to shorten the wake phrase to just Siri.

The smart assistant, which can be summoned on Apple devices like the iPhone
14 , iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) , and HomePod mini speaker , can be activated in a few ways, but one of the simplest is to use the wake phrase. Uttering "Hey Siri" before your question or command alerts the smart assistant to list for your instruction or question.

However, repeating "Hey Siri" over and over if you need help with several tasks in quick succession is more than a little tedious, so we're pleased to hear that Apple is reportedly planning to shorten the phrase and this may be the first step towards removing it entirely.

According to Blombergs Mark Gurman , Apple is planning to change "Hey Siri"
to just "Siri," though don't expect anything to happen overnight. Shortening the wake phrase to just one word presents several challenges; if device software isn't calibrated correctly it could become easier to activate Siri accidentally, or much harder to get its help using your voice alone. Amazon's Echo smart speakers don't require you to say "Hey" (Image credit: Amazon)

If the change does go through then it would bring Siri in line with Amazon's best smart speakers : its Amazon Echo devices. Users only need to say "Alexa" before asking questions or issuing instructions to get their Echo's help.

Google, on the other hand, still requires you to say Hey/OK Google to
instruct its Google Pixel 7 , Google Nest Mini , and other smart devices for most phrases, although if you enable the Quick Phrases feature on, there are some phrases you can say that dont require a wake word at all such as Stop when an alarm is going off.

Google reportedly is planning to expand this feature on its Google Nest Hub Max , with custom Quick Phrases apparently in the works , which could eliminate the need to say Hey Google ever again. It's unclear whether Apple will go this far, but if it wants its smart assistant to feel as clever as those made by Amazon and Google it wont want to lag too far behind with its innovations.

That being said, even removing Hey from Hey Siri may take a bit of time. According to Gurman, the feature is in its early testing stages, and likely wont be ready for a year or so. We imagine it might be highlighted at WWDC 2023 or 2024 as an upgrade that will arrive with iOS 17 or iOS 18.

Looking to get more from you Apple device right now? Here are our picks for the best iPhone apps you can download today to get more out of your handset.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/apple-might-be-changing-the-hey-siri-wake-word- on-your-iphone/


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