Apple Working on Natural Language Updates for Siri, Planning Redesign for macOS Ventura TV App

Thursday March 16, 2023 11:24 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple appears to be working on some kind of natural language update for Siri on the Apple TV along with interface changes to the macOS TV app, according to details 9to5Mac located in the latest tvOS 16.4 and macOS Ventura 13.3 betas.

Information sourced from the tvOS 16.4 beta suggests that Apple has developed a "‌Siri‌ Natural Language Generation" framework, presumably to enhance the personal assistant's natural language capabilities. According to 9to5Mac, Apple is using natural language generation for telling jokes with ‌Siri‌, but as that functionality is on the iPhone and other devices, it is not quite clear what's changed. As 9to5Mac explains:

In the latest tvOS 16.4 beta, Apple has enabled a new framework for "Siri Natural Language Generation" capabilities. As it currently stands, Apple is only using natural language generation for telling jokes with Siri on Apple TV. The company is experimenting with how language generation could be used for timers, as well.

The updated natural language generation framework seems to be limited to tvOS 16.4 and little is known about it at this time, but 9to5Mac suggests that similar (and not activated) code is included in iOS, HomePod OS, iPadOS, and macOS, so whatever ‌Siri‌ features Apple is working on could also come to all devices in the future.

There is no indication that any natural language enhancement for ‌Siri‌ is an attempt by Apple to compete with Google, Microsoft, and others on AI-enhanced chatbots, but it seems that Apple may have some kind of plan to boost ‌Siri‌'s capabilities starting with tvOS 16.4.

Separately, a hidden version of the ‌Apple TV‌ app for Mac in the latest macOS Ventura 13.3 beta demonstrates a new design. There is an added sidebar for navigation, which brings the ‌Apple TV‌ app for Mac in line with the version for the iPad.

Image via 9to5Mac

The sidebar brings easier access to various TV app functions, including ‌Apple TV‌+, Watch Now, the Library, purchasable TV shows and movies, and more. Aside from the sidebar, the interface looks similar to the current TV app.

It's worth noting that the updated version of the TV app is not implemented in the current macOS 13.3 beta, so it could be added in a future beta or Apple could save it for a later software update.

Tags: 9to5Mac, Siri Guide

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Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️

32 months ago

Siri in general needs a lot of work. It's still 10 years behind in iOS.

Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)

MacAddict1978

32 months ago

I suspect she will still respond with "I'm not sure how to help with that" 40% of the time.
I've abandoned all hope for Siri. Was excited for improved dictation.... she cannot use commas correctly to save her soul and get more words wrong than before.

Apple should really throw in the towel and just let other options on their devices. Ones that work.

Make Siri multi lingual already! It is ridiculous.

If I am always writing English with contact A, stupid Siri should be smart enough to read out the message correctly instead of throwing out gibberish or saying „this message is in a different language“. It could even be linked to the dictionary or keyboard used for contact A or B.

The keyboard does it, yet Siri cant! You should hear those messages when Siri tries reading me English messages in German or Spanish ??‍??

She can't even understand simple English - you want them to unleash the pain of her on others?

Siri is way behind. I'm not an amazon fan boy, but Alexa is pretty impressive, especially when compared to Siri.

Siri is not much better than this - least not regarding accuracy.

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TheYayAreaLiving ?️

32 months ago

Hope they will catch up to GPT.

When ChatGPT meets Siri.

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

macsplusmacs

32 months ago

Siri in general needs a lot of work. It's still 10 years behind.

I think the last 3 months post ChatGPT, apple has realized it for real this time and are going to move full bore towards a better Siri / chatting/ LLM based solution.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

contacos

32 months ago

Make Siri multi lingual already! It is ridiculous.

If I am always writing English with contact A, stupid Siri should be smart enough to read out the message correctly instead of throwing out gibberish or saying „this message is in a different language“. It could even be linked to the dictionary or keyboard used for contact A or B.

The keyboard does it, yet Siri cant! You should hear those messages when Siri tries reading me English messages in German or Spanish ??‍??

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)