What’s actually new in Siri in iOS 18.1? The Apple Intelligence upgrades explained – and what’s coming next
The best is yet to come
Apple Intelligence has arrived, and you can install it on compatible devices now by updating to iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1. As an Apple Intelligence expert I live and breathe everything to do with Apple AI, so this week, with the official launch of the new software, my iPhone has been pinging like crazy with messages from friends and family. All of them have the same question in mind: What’s going on with Siri? Wasn’t it meant to be super-smart?
You see, it shouldn’t take a rocket scientist to understand the Apple Intelligence launch but unfortunately, unless you consume all media related to Apple AI, there’s no way you’re going to know the ins and outs of Apple’s confusing launch schedule. Siri will indeed be super-smart – but not yet, and not for a while. Instead, Siri’s iOS 18.1 upgrades are more surface-level, focusing on a gorgeous new redesign and small quality-of-life improvements. So what’s actually new in Siri in iOS 18.1? Let’s find out.
Siri has a complete new redesign in iOS 18.1 and it’s glorious. The Siri colors pop from the edges of your device, and a purple hue takes over the whole display. This new design is a modern approach, allowing you to interact with your iPhone while speaking to the voice assistant. On Mac, you can place the Siri window anywhere on your desktop, allowing you to get tasks done while still interacting with your smart assistant. This is a huge change to Siri, as the assistant used to interrupt whatever you were doing on your device useless for a few seconds while it took over your screen. Now, the redesign feels fresh, and it’ll look right at home once Siri gains on-screen awareness functionality later next year.