Apple’s new HomePod mini 2 goes on sale later this month, but one of its headline features — Siri AI — will not be available on day one.
Apple says Siri AI will arrive through a future software update, meaning customers buying the new speaker at launch will need to wait for the more capable assistant experience.
In its HomePod mini 2 announcement, Apple says Siri AI is built on a new architecture using the latest generation of Apple Foundation Models and will add personal context, broad world knowledge and more natural conversations.
What Siri AI will do on HomePod mini 2
When paired with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, HomePod mini 2 will be able to use personal context across apps to help with requests such as finding a song recommended in a message, locating a recipe from an email or adding ingredients to a grocery list.
Apple says the speaker can recognize up to six household members by voice and connect securely to their own devices and apps.
Once Siri AI is enabled, users without an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad will still be able to use its broader world knowledge, richer conversations and improved music discovery, although personal-context features require a supported paired device.
Siri AI will initially be available in English in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK.
The delay is an important detail for anyone considering the new HomePod mini 2 announced today, which is available to pre-order now ahead of its October 30 release.
