Siri’s Performance Drops in iOS 18.4: What Happened and What Lies Ahead?

The Siri Journey: A Commitment to AI-Driven Intelligence

Apple has consistently promoted Siri as a groundbreaking voice assistant, and with the unveiling of Apple Intelligence, hopes for its functionality have escalated. Upcoming updates were set to boost Siri’s capacity to execute multi-step commands, rectify user mistakes, and even collaborate with ChatGPT for more sophisticated inquiries.

Yet, as iOS 18.4 enters the beta phase, a concerning shift has emerged: users are finding Siri’s performance has deteriorated. Instead of demonstrating the expected AI-enhanced features, Siri is now burdened by inaccuracies, erratic behavior, and a clear misinterpretation of even the simplest requests.

Siri’s Unforeseen Deterioration in iOS 18.4

A Fresh Appearance, Lacking New Capabilities

Among the few noticeable updates in iOS 18.4 is a new glowing effect when Siri is activated. While this visual enhancement may be visually pleasing, it does little to remedy the functional shortcomings that have become increasingly evident.

Users experimenting with the beta version are facing frequent mistakes, ranging from erroneous scheduling responses to misunderstood calendar inquiries. For instance, asking Siri, “What’s left of my day?” previously provided a rundown of the day’s upcoming events. Now, the reply is often an ambiguous and inaccurate “You have 25 events today until [a shifting future date].”

Basic Commands, Unanticipated Mistakes

Siri has always been known for its frustrating inconsistencies—sometimes it accurately grasps a request, while at other times it struggles with even the simplest commands. In iOS 18.4, these inconsistencies seem to have intensified.

For example:

• Asking, “Siri, what do I have planned for my birthday?” should utilize the user’s stored birthdate and calendar events. Instead, Siri frequently provides a random event count.
• “When is my next trip?” should refer to travel-related calendar entries, yet Siri often claims no event labeled “trip” exists.
• Even straightforward commands such as “Set a timer for 10 minutes” have previously yielded bizarre, incorrect durations.

While some of these issues might be attributed to transient problems with Apple’s servers, their persistence indicates deeper flaws within Siri’s processing framework.

Siri and ChatGPT: An Incomplete Integration

Confusion in AI-Guided Responses

One of the most captivating features of Apple Intelligence is Siri’s intended ability to pass complex inquiries to ChatGPT. Nonetheless, this capability seems to be generating more confusion than clarity in iOS 18.4.

Users have reported situations where Siri mistakenly presumes that ChatGPT integration is already operational. For instance, when queried, “When was my last trip to Switzerland?”—a question that should rely on personal calendar information—Siri instead asks whether it should consult ChatGPT. If the user consents, ChatGPT either declines to respond (as it lacks access to personal data) or solicits further information from the user.

Another complication arises when Siri makes inconsistent decisions about using ChatGPT for a question. Asking, “How do you say ‘thank you’ in Mandarin?” sometimes results in an audible answer from Siri. However, if the prior query involved ChatGPT, Siri will default back to ChatGPT—without seeking confirmation—providing a written reply rather than vocalizing it.

Progress in Motion

It is clear that Apple is still working on refining the integration of Siri and ChatGPT. While delegating complex queries to an external AI could be advantageous, the current implementation is marked by inconsistency and a lack of clarity, leading to user dissatisfaction rather than approval.

Apple Intelligence: A Postponed Transformation for Siri

Apple’s Promises vs. Current Reality

Apple’s promotional efforts for Apple Intelligence have strongly emphasized impending enhancements for Siri, such as improved contextual awareness and more natural interactions. However, with iOS 18.4, these enhancements remain absent.

Apple has acknowledged setbacks in rolling out Siri’s AI-enhanced features, but the more pressing concern is that Siri’s current performance isn’t stagnant—it is actively declining. New users hoping for a significantly upgraded Siri may feel misled, while long-time Apple users might become increasingly exasperated with the assistant’s ongoing deficiencies.

Minor Fixes Noticed

To provide some credit, not all changes in iOS 18.4 are detrimental. Some previously mentioned bugs—like timers being set to arbitrary durations—appear to have been corrected. However, these minor fixes are overshadowed by the broader issues affecting Siri’s performance and reliability.

Conclusion: Is There Hope for Siri’s Comeback?

Siri’s downturn in iOS 18.4 represents a considerable setback for Apple, particularly as it aims to introduce Apple Intelligence as a transformative AI feature. While some problems might be addressed in future updates, the current situation raises serious doubts about Apple’s capacity to fulfill its commitments.

For users who depend on Siri for everyday tasks, this performance drop is disheartening. If Apple wishes to uphold trust in its AI-driven future, it must prioritize rectifying Siri’s inconsistencies and ensuring that promised advancements come to fruition.

Until then, Apple users may need to lower their expectations and await the next update that will hopefully deliver the Siri we were promised.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why does Siri perform worse in iOS 18.4?

Siri’s performance drop in iOS 18.4 seems to be attributed to backend modifications and ongoing integration with Apple Intelligence. Some functionalities are still under development, and inconsistencies in AI processing may be leading to errors.

2. When will Siri receive the anticipated AI enhancements?

Apple has stated that major AI updates for Siri will be deployed gradually, beginning with iOS 18.4. However, there have already been delays, and it’s uncertain when all promised features will be fully operational.

3. Is ChatGPT officially integrated with Siri at this time?

Not entirely. While Siri occasionally asks for permission to utilize ChatGPT for specific inquiries, the integration is erratic and appears to still be under development.

4. How can I enhance Siri’s accuracy in iOS 18.4?

Users facing difficulties may attempt to restart their devices, ensure Siri’s settings are properly configured, and provide straightforward, clear commands. Nevertheless, many current issues seem to arise from Apple’s end rather than user error.

5. Will future updates resolve Siri’s existing issues?

Apple is likely aware of Siri’s challenges and will issue updates to enhance performance. However, it remains unknown how swiftly these corrections will be implemented.

6. Should I upgrade to iOS 18.4 if I rely on Siri?

If you heavily rely on Siri for daily activities, it may be wise to wait until Apple rolls out a more stable version of iOS 18.4 or confirms that the issues have been addressed.

7. What alternatives to Siri are available?

Users seeking more dependable voice assistants might consider Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, both of which are recognized for their advanced AI features and superior contextual understanding.