What you need to know
- Apple is removing some Siri support for certain requests later this year.
- It will end support for some CarPlay requests, list and notes, payments and photos, and some requests ride-booking services like Uber.
- The company has warned developers to update their apps accordingly.
Apple appears to be planning to end Siri support for some major third-party apps and functions, including ride-hailing apps like Uber, later this year.
According to a new developer document spotted by MacRumors Apple says that beginning with iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, and watchOS 8 "some Sirikit intent domains will be deprecated and will no longer be supported in all new and existing OS releases":
Starting with the customer release of iOS 15, iPadOS 15, macOS Monterey, tvOS 15, and watchOS 8 this fall, some SiriKit intent domains will be deprecated and will no longer be supported in all new and existing OS releases. If a user makes a request that leverages one of these APIs after it's been removed, Siri will reply that it can't support the request.
Apple says developers should make plans to update promotional activities that tell customers about the functionality of these APIs.
Coming to an end is support for CarPlay requests including setting the audio source, changing climate settings, and changing the radio station. Lists and notes apps will no longer accept append to note, create task list, or delete a task requests. Payment apps won't let you pay a bill, search for bills, or transfer money between accounts using Siri.
Apple says that Photos apps won't let you search for photos or start a photo playback. The headline is perhaps ride-booking apps like Uber, which will no longer support requests to list ride options, request a ride, get the status of your ride, cancel a ride, or send ride feedback.
With Apple bringing support for these specific APIs across its operating systems, the various requests will likely not be available to Apple's own apps, as well as third-party offerings. As noted, the information does not provide any information as to why Apple is removing support for these APIs, and we've reached out to Apple for comment on the move.
Apple added new privacy features to Siri in iOS 15, including processing requests on-device by default, it also rolled out support for Siri on third-party HomeKit accessories.
