Brief: Trying the New Siri AI for a While
I’ve been using Siri AI on the iPhone 17 Pro Max for about a week now, and I have to say it’s changed significantly. The response is noticeably faster, and when I ask for complex information, I get answers that are much easier to understand than before.
What impressed me is how smoothly it works with different apps. I can ask it to manage calendar, send messages, or search for information in apps without having to open the apps myself. The 3nm A19 Pro chip really helps with fast AI processing.
I think the contextual understanding has improved a lot. I can ask follow-up questions without having to explain again. But there are still limitations with Thai language - sometimes it still misunderstands if I speak too fast. Overall, it’s more practical than I expected.
First Impressions of the New Siri AI
I’ve been trying the new Siri for about 2 weeks now, and I have to say it’s really changed. The response is much faster, and whatever information I ask for, it answers more to the point than before. Especially when commanding multiple apps simultaneously, it’s like having a real assistant helping with work.
What’s clearly noticeable is the improved natural language understanding. I can speak casually and it knows what I want. No need to use rigid commands like before.
I think the AI processing on the 3nm A19 Pro chip makes it respond much faster than the old Siri. But I still want it to support Thai more naturally than this.
When Old Siri Frustrated Us Daily
Honestly, the old Siri was quite disappointing. Ask simple questions several times and it wouldn’t understand, or it would say “Sorry, I don’t understand the question.”
The most frustrating thing was having to speak like a robot, repeating the same commands to make it understand. Multitasking was a headache - open app A then command something about app B and it gets confused.
Plus the slow response time made me want to grab the phone and throw it at the wall. I think the fundamental problem with old Siri was the lack of AI smart enough to understand context and process complex tasks.
So I had expectations that the new AI version would solve these problems.
Where Siri AI Fits in Apple’s Ecosystem
Apple positions the new Siri AI as the core heart of Apple Intelligence running on the 3nm A19 Pro chip in new devices like the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which has 12GB RAM for full AI processing capability.
Instead of just being a voice assistant like before, Siri now becomes the bridge between iOS 26 and the entire AI system. It works with the Neural Engine to learn user behavior and improve responses.
I think this change is very important because Apple didn’t just upgrade Siri, but created an entirely new AI ecosystem that allows all iPhone apps to communicate through Siri seamlessly.
Comparing Old Siri vs New Siri AI
| Factor | Original Siri | Siri AI in iOS 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Context Understanding | Single commands only | Cross-app context understanding |
| Learning Capability | Only recognizes commands | Learns user behavior |
| Response Speed | Must search for information | Processes at Neural Engine |
| Cross-app Functionality | Limited | Connects to all apps |
| Thai Language | Basic | Better language structure understanding |
The most obvious difference is context understanding. If before asking “Do I have any appointments today?” Siri would just open Calendar, now it also looks at Email, Messages, and other information.
I think the new Siri AI makes it feel more like talking to a person than commanding a machine, because it remembers what we talked about and connects information from multiple sources to provide comprehensive answers.
Testing Siri AI in Real Situations
I tried 4 main features in daily life and found that morning planning - waking up at 7 AM, just asking “Help me get ready” and Siri would read important messages, check calendar, tell weather, and suggest routes to work.
Complex information searches work well, like “Find restaurants near home that are open now” - it shows the list with routes and reviews. For smart home control, it can do multiple things simultaneously: “Turn off lights, lock door, turn on AC to 24 degrees.”
I think what impressed me most is that Siri remembers what we talked about and responds naturally. It’s not just commanding a machine, but like having a real personal assistant.
Comparing Competitors: Siri AI vs Google Assistant vs Alexa
| Factor | Siri AI | Google Assistant | Alexa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Context Memory | Excellent | Good | Average |
| Thai Language Understanding | Much improved | Still usable | Limited |
| Cross-device Usage | iOS only | Android/iOS | All platforms |
| Smart Home | HomeKit | Comprehensive | Best |
| Natural Interaction | Outstanding | Good | Usable |
Honestly, Siri AI now surpasses Google Assistant in many areas, especially context memory in conversations. Alexa still excels in smart home but conversation isn’t as natural.
I think Siri’s big limitation is that it only works within Apple’s ecosystem. If you use Android or Windows together, it won’t reach full potential.
Pros and Cons of Siri AI
Pros
- +Much better conversation context understanding, smooth continuity
- +Natural responses, not stiff like before
- +Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem
- +On-device processing makes it fast and secure
Cons
- −Only available in iOS 26 on new iPhone models
- −Some complex commands still can't match ChatGPT
- −Cannot fully work with all third-party apps
- −Feels limited if you're not a true Apple person
I’ve used it for a week now and feel that Siri AI has really improved, but it’s not perfect in everything. Apple using the 3nm A19 Pro chip for on-device processing makes it fast, but the limitation is it requires new iPhones with 12GB RAM or more.
Honestly, integration with other apps isn’t that smooth yet, but for basic tasks it’s much more satisfying.
Hidden Costs
Honestly, the initial cost isn’t just the iPhone 17 Pro Max price alone, because Siri AI works at full efficiency with 12GB RAM, which means you need to buy 256GB model or higher only.
What’s hidden is increased internet costs because some features still need cloud processing connection to Apple servers constantly. Plus if you use heavy integration with other apps, the 4,300 mAh battery drains faster than usual.
I think total costs for the first 6-8 months will be higher than expected because you need to adjust data plans and might need to buy extra power banks. If budget is limited, wait to see if Apple improves optimization further.
Made for
- Power users who use iPhone as their main work tool
- People who like trying new tech with unlimited budget
- Professionals who need AI assistant with good Thai response
Think twice
- People with expensive data packages or unstable WiFi — Siri AI consumes a lot of internet
Skip this one
- People with basic usage like call-sms-camera — iPhone 15 is better, saves a lot of money
- People using Android ecosystem — would need to change entire system
Honestly, Siri AI is still early stage so it’s suitable for people ready to pay premium to try new things first.
I think if you only use it for calls-messaging-photos, paying $1,500+ for these AI features isn’t worth it. But if you’re a professional who really needs productivity tools, it helps a lot, especially integration with various apps.
Siri AI Usage Summary
After using the iPhone 17 Pro Max with new Siri AI for several weeks, I can conclude that it actually works. Especially workflow management and automation done through voice. The golden moment is AI understanding command context much better than the previous version.
I think if you’re someone who works hard, uses multiple apps simultaneously, having Siri AI help with multitasking like this is really worth it. But if you use it for basic things like contacting friends, watching social media, the budget would be better spent on other phones instead.
My recommendation is to wait for the next version if it’s not urgent, because some AI features aren’t fully available in Thailand yet.