Apple is focusing on developing Siri rather than creating a new Amazon Echo-like ‘Siri Hub’ device according to reports
According to a report from Tim Bajarin at Times, Apple’s focus is to develop and expand Siri on their existing hardware rather than creating a new Amazon Echo-like AI ‘Siri Hub’ device, citing discussions with unnamed Apple executives with knowledge of Apple’s product pipeline.
With the dates for WWDC 2017 recently being announced, some had believed that an Amazon Echo competitor from Apple would be debuted however, the Apple executives cited in Tim Bajarin’s report say the future goal for Apple’s AI technology is to utilise Siri as an “omnipresent AI assistant across devices” rather than creating a central hub such as the Echo speaker which is powered by Amazon’s Alexa AI system.
Apple has already brought Siri to iOS, macOS, watchOS and tvOS devices, as well as in accessories such as AirPods and possibly within the rumoured iPad Pro ‘Smart Keyboard 2’. In the report, Tim Bajarin claims…
“Despite Amazon’s success, Apple has no apparent interest in copying the Echo. After talking with Apple executives, I’ve come away with the impression that they’re more interested in turning Siri into an omnipresent AI assistant across devices, rather than designing a single device specifically to serve as a Siri machine.”