The AirPods Pro 3 aren’t here yet, nor is a real AirPods Max 2, but it was a solid year for AirPods anyway thanks to AirPods 4 and some important software updates. However, one of my favorite new features this year is set to have its biggest impact in the coming months, when iOS 18.4 launches.
My favorite new AirPods feature: Siri Interactions
As has been the case every year since the launch of the AirPods Pro 2, Apple introduced several new software upgrades for its wireless earbuds this year.
iOS 18 and 18.1 introduced the following features:
- Voice isolation: Improves calls in noisy environments.
- Interactions with Siri: Nod or shake your head to respond to Siri.
- Hearing health: Hearing test, hearing aid and hearing protection.
- Custom spatial audio: Apple has improved this, although the details are unclear.
The most revolutionary upgrade this year is undoubtedly the trio of hearing health features. But my favorite is Siri Interactions, which is supported on AirPods Pro 2 And AirPods 4.
I love how Apple has created such perfect audio cues to indicate that it’s recording your head movements.
This feature has been a great addition when I’m walking around town and want to minimize my voice interactions with Siri.
It also works great when talking to ChatGPT via Siri.
But while I’ve already enjoyed the Siri interactions, they should have their biggest impact in iOS 18.4.
iOS 18.4 Promises Smart Siri Will Drive Increased Daily Usage
Apple predicts that this spring’s iOS 18.4 release will focus on big improvements to Siri.
Here’s what’s coming:
- Perform actions within and across apps: Voice computing will really start to be a thing when Siri can perform hundreds of new app actions.
- Knowledge of personal context: Siri will act as a real assistant in that it will be able to respond to requests based on personal information about you, such as your calendar details, text messages you have received, podcasts you have listened to, etc.
- Screen Awareness: Whatever you are looking at on your screen, Siri will be able to take action.
The promise of iOS 18.4 is that it will make Siri the kind of intelligent assistant we’ve all hoped for, but never had before.
If Apple can deliver on this promise, daily Siri usage is set to increase and the new Siri Interactions feature will become more crucial.
We are getting closer to a Her-like a future, with a more efficient digital assistant just one “Siri”.
As a result, AirPods and features like Siri’s nonverbal interactions will combine to be one of the best ways to take advantage of Siri’s new intelligence.
Have you used Siri interactions on your AirPods? Which iOS 18.4 upgrade are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments.
