Apple's Siri AI upgrade is a game-changer, but it comes with a catch: many iPhone owners might be left out. This new AI-powered Siri can understand personal context, analyze what's on your screen, and take actions across apps. However, it's only available on newer Apple devices, leaving a significant portion of the company's installed base unable to use the features. This limitation raises questions about whether Apple's AI ambitions can persuade customers to upgrade their devices and embrace a new generation of AI-powered experiences.
The eligible devices for the Siri AI upgrade are:
- iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone Air
- iPhone 17
- iPhone 17e
- iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
- iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
- iPhone 16e
- iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
- iPad Pro (M1 chip and later)
- iPad Air (M1 chip and later)
- iPad mini (A17 Pro)
- All models with Apple silicon (M1 chip and later, and A18 Pro chip)
- Apple Watch Series 9 and later
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later
- Apple Watch SE 3
- Apple Vision Pro
This upgrade is a significant step forward for Siri, but it's also a test of Apple's ability to persuade customers to upgrade their devices. The company has been under pressure to demonstrate its AI capabilities, and the Siri AI upgrade is a key part of that demonstration. However, the question remains: will people pay for AI?
Apple has been somewhat shielded from concerns about its AI capabilities because most of its revenue comes from iPhone sales, which have been strong. However, the company will need to demonstrate that its AI assistant can be used to push iPhone upgrades, increase services revenue, and support innovative new products. The key question for investors is whether Apple can persuade people to pay for AI.
In the past, Apple has been a laggard in the race to deploy AI, and the Siri AI upgrade was delayed amid a recent agreement by Apple to pay a proposed $250 million class action settlement over claims related to how it has marketed Apple Intelligence and enhanced Siri features. The company will need to demonstrate that its AI assistant can be used to push iPhone upgrades, increase services revenue, and support innovative new products.
The new Siri AI features are geared toward everyday tasks, rather than business-focused work. They will help operate apps, answer questions by analyzing a user's iPhone's screen, and integrate personal context into responses. This personal context understanding also applies to third-party apps when developers connect them with Spotlight.
In conclusion, Apple's Siri AI upgrade is a significant step forward, but it comes with a catch. The company will need to demonstrate that its AI assistant can be used to push iPhone upgrades, increase services revenue, and support innovative new products. The question remains: will people pay for AI?
