The focus of Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is expected to be on digital assistant Siri and on whether the company’s best days are behind, the Wall Street Journal reported. At the conference, Apple plans to announce that it is opening Siri to outside developers, sources said. That could allow, for example, iPhone users to ask Siri to call for an Uber ride or check in for a flight from an airline app.
Online magazine the Information reported earlier that Apple is planning to release a software-development kit for Siri at the conference. An Apple spokeswoman declined to comment.
For Apple, connecting Siri to other apps is important because Alexa -Amazon’s talking virtual assistant built into the Echo and its other speakers- already does that, enabling users to order a pizza, check a credit-card balance or see what is on television Google parent Alphabet and Microsoft have also introduced voice-activated digital assistants that rely on artificial intelligence.
Apple is also expected to announce a refresh for its entire software lineup. Apple has four operating systems, including one for the iPhone and iPad and another each for Apple TV, Apple Watch and Macs. All are updated annually with new features. This year, according to a person familiar with the matter, Siri is expected to become available on the Mac.
