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Apple Testing Service That Allows Siri to Answer Calls and Transcribe Voicemail

Posted by samzenpus on from the you-mean-just-like-google? dept.

An anonymous reader writes: Apple is reportedly testing a new feature which would allow Siri to answer your calls and then transcribe the voicemails as text messages. The iCloud service would then send users the text of that transcribed voicemail. Apple employees are testing a voicemail service currently and a public release isn't expected until sometime in 2016 in iOS10.

70 comments

  1. Get ready by gti_guy · · Score: 1

    for butchered last names.

    1. Re:Get ready by ArcadeMan · · Score: 1

      Hello there, Grand Theft Internet Guy. - Siri

      --
      Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
    2. Re: Get ready by ArmoredDragon · · Score: 1

      I'm getting ready for the mass media to shot "OMG A TOTALLY NEW THING NOBODY HAS EVER DONE BEFORE FROM APPLE!â

      Forgetting of course that Apple has been trying to cripple Google Voice from running on iOS for years.

    3. Re:Get ready by chefmonkey · · Score: 1

      ObRef: http://www.netfunny.com/rhf/jo...

  2. Visual Voice Mail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So glad Apple finally figured out visual voice mail... again.

    1. Re:Visual Voice Mail by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      So glad Apple finally figured out visual voice mail... again.

      Yup, Vonage has literally been doing this for years.

  3. Answering calls? by nine-times · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It sounds like they're really just talking about transcribing voicemails, but by saying that Siri will "answer calls", it made me wonder if there might be a future in Siri (or something like it) replacing phone tree systems with something a little more intelligent. For example, could you have a system that didn't just look for certain keywords, but ask the caller what kind of issue they're calling about, and then route the call appropriately. In some cases, Siri might route it to a live phone operator, in others she might automatically transcribe the caller's statements and route it to the right person's email, or attach it to the correct trouble-ticket. Maybe if the system were smart enough, it could even prioritize incoming calls, or interrupt current phone calls, (e.g. "Excuse me Mr. Nine-Times, but there is an urgent phone call from one of your most important clients. Can you take the phone call right now?")

    I hadn't really thought about that before, but it seems like a market that could really use a better solution. Phone trees suck.

    1. Re:Answering calls? by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Like everyone else, I'm getting an increasing number of spam calls on my business cell. I can't whitelist (block all calls not in my Contacts) because some unknown numbers represent new customers. But if Siri can be programmed to recognize spammers and send them packing with a stream of choice expletives, this would be a godsend. To being with, spam calls usually begin with a short delay. Then there are the speech patterns advertisers and political wheedlers commonly use. Siri could even feed you through a "translucent" piece of the caller's spiel overlaid by its own "Shall I take this call?"

    2. Re:Answering calls? by seven+of+five · · Score: 1

      might be a future in Siri (or something like it) replacing phone tree systems with something a little more intelligent.
      AT&T has for years used an automated system for handling service outages & other problems. The fact that it sort of works in its restricted way is impressive but the frustration of dealing with yet another cheap-ass corporate answering machine, unable to flexibly deal with real customer problems, is not.

    3. Re:Answering calls? by hawguy · · Score: 1

      It sounds like they're really just talking about transcribing voicemails, but by saying that Siri will "answer calls", it made me wonder if there might be a future in Siri (or something like it) replacing phone tree systems with something a little more intelligent. For example, could you have a system that didn't just look for certain keywords, but ask the caller what kind of issue they're calling about, and then route the call appropriately. In some cases, Siri might route it to a live phone operator, in others she might automatically transcribe the caller's statements and route it to the right person's email, or attach it to the correct trouble-ticket. Maybe if the system were smart enough, it could even prioritize incoming calls, or interrupt current phone calls, (e.g. "Excuse me Mr. Nine-Times, but there is an urgent phone call from one of your most important clients. Can you take the phone call right now?")

      I hadn't really thought about that before, but it seems like a market that could really use a better solution. Phone trees suck.

      I know that nothing has truly been invented until Apple invents it, but such intelligent IVR"s have been around for years with varying levels of success. The reason the simple "Press N for X" phone trees continue to be popular is because they are easy to implement in the phone system, easy to maintain using a simple GUI, and easy for companies (even small companies) to understand.

    4. Re:Answering calls? by Jason+Levine · · Score: 1

      I have something like this with Google Voice. I can mark an incoming call as spam and block them from ever calling me again. Just like with spam e-mail filters, other people can do this too which can result in a phone call not even ringing my cell phone. And when a spammer tries calling me, they get a "This number is no longer in service" message.

      --
      My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
    5. Re:Answering calls? by nine-times · · Score: 2

      Then there are the speech patterns advertisers and political wheedlers commonly use. Siri could even feed you through a "translucent" piece of the caller's spiel overlaid by its own "Shall I take this call?"

      This reminds me of Grand Central, the service that eventually became Google Voice. It had features where you could say, for example, "Right now, if someone in my family calls, route them them directly to my cell phone. If one of my work contacts calls, route them to my work voicemail. If an unknown number calls, ask them to leave a voicemail, but let me listen into the the voicemail and I'll decide whether to take the call."

      I think it was a great feature set, but it was probably too complicated to be workable for most people. It'd be nice if Apple (or someone else) could work out a way to do this in a naturalistic way.

    6. Re:Answering calls? by cjb658 · · Score: 2

      Whitepages Caller ID app does this for me, but I'm on Android. Also, it does not respond with expletives.

    7. Re:Answering calls? by SoCalChris · · Score: 3, Funny

      Also, it does not respond with expletives.

      They need to fix that, it's a great app otherwise.

    8. Re:Answering calls? by Ralph+Wiggam · · Score: 1

      , it made me wonder if there might be a future in Siri (or something like it) replacing phone tree systems with something a little more intelligent.

      That's a main goal of IBM's Watson project. They didn't spend millions of dollars just trying to impress Alex Trebek.

    9. Re:Answering calls? by Noah+Haders · · Score: 1

      the service will probably be focused on consumer rather than bidness use. but it could give different messages to different callers based on address book, as you say interrupt the phone owner for different needs, etc. I like siri. in fact, one of the things I miss most on my apple watch is siri's voice.

    10. Re:Answering calls? by sycodon · · Score: 1

      Apple had a concept video from the late 80's I think that showed someone interacting with their Mac (a laptop with a foldable screen) that behaved like a secretary...probably about 130-140% of Siri's capability at the moment. This may be it. Youtube is blocked at work so I can't be sure.

      It relayed the content of the voice mail much like a secretary would,( "So and so called and said they'd be late for the meeting but they'd have the reports"), adjusted appointments, etc.

      Step by Step...

      --
      When Fascism comes to America, it will call itself Anti-Fascism, and tell you to give up your guns.
    11. Re:Answering calls? by master_kaos · · Score: 1

      Spam callers for me have been extremely helpful this past year. They always tend to match my area code, and the first three digits of my number, with the final 4 digits being random, so when I see an unknown number come up that matches the first 6 digts of my number I instantly know it is a spammer and can ignore the call!

      Thanks for making it so easy!

    12. Re:Answering calls? by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      I know that nothing has truly been invented until Apple invents it, but such intelligent IVR"s have been around for years with varying levels of success. The reason the simple "Press N for X" phone trees continue to be popular is because they are easy to implement in the phone system, easy to maintain using a simple GUI, and easy for companies (even small companies) to understand.

      And actually, less prone to error and less frustrating for users to use.

      Ask anyone with a heavy accent how well IVRs work, and the meme of someone yelling into the phone while the IVR fails to recognize their speech is common.

      Pressing numbers works, though is slightly less convenient on modern cellphones, and is generally recognizable even in the worst conditions (because well, they were designed that way - the frequencies were specially chosen to accommodate really, really, really terrible connections).

      Then there's the whole yelling thing - people tend to lose it after the 3rd "I'm sorry, would you please repeat your request?".

      The trick though is to realize that numbers still work, and hitting "0" often works to get you to a human the fastest.

    13. Re:Answering calls? by hawguy · · Score: 1

      The trick though is to realize that numbers still work, and hitting "0" often works to get you to a human the fastest.

      Alas, not so much anymore -- companies know that users know that 0 gets them the operator, so now many of them either have 0 start over, or do nothing so as not to waste precious human time dealing with humans.

  4. Not Ready For Prime Time by multimediavt · · Score: 2

    Ok, when Siri can get my basic music playing instructions correct I'll think about maybe letting it try to transcribe my voicemails.

  5. years late by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did they just not like the name Google Voice?

    1. Re:years late by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 1

      There's two parts to the Google Apple feature war tick tock attack and defend. (lets ignore the courts for now, just focus on the actual features)

      The tick is a new feature. The tock is seeing what's useful and copy it. This tock will be useful in me ignoring voicemails for the most part. Even a bad transcription can be useful if you pretty much already know what the calls going to be for.

  6. Because we need more voicemail by sims+2 · · Score: 1

    I would like my cellphone to be able to answer calls itself and play music while letting you know if my phone is on silent or not and ring at the same time.

    I suppose you could set it up to do voicemail locally but who uses voicemail anyway?

    Text or call back later. No voicemail!

    --
    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
  7. Maybe I'm just paranoid... by SirGeek · · Score: 0

    But.. Wouldn't this be "easier" for *pick your 3 character gov agency* to get 100% access to your data (as it would now be text) ?

    --
    UPS Sucks
    1. Re:Maybe I'm just paranoid... by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      But.. Wouldn't this be "easier" for *pick your 3 character gov agency* to get 100% access to your data (as it would now be text) ?

      The feds are already doing this to all calls, so no.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  8. Google Voice has been doing this for five years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    So, six years after Google launched it, Apple is coming out with a similar feature. Can't wait to switch to iOS. By 2020 Apple will probably be trialing iOS pop-ups informing me of the status of upcoming flights and providing driving directions to the airport based on current traffic.

    1. Re:Google Voice has been doing this for five years by aaron4801 · · Score: 2

      Don't be silly, Apple will never get Apple Maps fixed.

    2. Re:Google Voice has been doing this for five years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      pop-ups informing me of the status of upcoming flights and providing driving directions to the airport based on current traffic.

      This feature with Google is very welcomed in my opinion. Yes Google is trolling my emails, contacts, and calender but.. At least I am getting something useful and beneficial out of it too, not just them collecting that information for themselves. I like to see my flight status, not only driving times and suggestions when to leave but also the gate info and boarding pass link/barcode and baggage pickup locations. It even pops up a warning and alert when my flight gets cancelled or delayed, also get quick tips on my next appointment, the hotel I have a reservation for "check in today at blah blah", weather starts showing up a few days in advance of a trip for that location and it even gives me directions for places I've been in the same city before. Like directions to my companies office when I land, far better and useful information than TripIt or any other travel app I've used and with Google, it is all automatic. I've come to rely on it.

  9. Google did it by OhPlz · · Score: 3, Informative

    Isn't this basically Google Voice? Google records the message, transcribes it to text.

    1. Re:Google did it by Jon_S · · Score: 2

      And, if you set it up the way I do, sends you an e-mail, so if you are like me and use lots of e-mail (I hear the young-un's don't use it so much any more), you can easily reply with an e-mail.

      Works great. Not sure what's so new about this.

    2. Re:Google did it by Dixie_Flatline · · Score: 1

      I've heard that despite Google's usually excellent voice recognition, there are complaints about the quality of Google's transcription service. I don't have it or use it myself.

      But it sounds like this is more than just transcription, though that's the main crux of it. If Siri is answering for you, you can have her filter calls, transcribe voicemail, reject calls, etc. It's like a spam filter for your phone. (Not that I give my number out to people so they can phone much anymore. It's mostly just the bank or callbacks for appointments.)

    3. Re:Google did it by OhPlz · · Score: 1

      I'm not a Google Voice user, but I'd be surprised if at least some of the functionality wasn't already there. Some of those are "obvious" features. The only difference I can see is that Apple has a name for their assistant and Google does not.

      In a few months we'll probably see a story where Microsoft is implementing a system where Cortana will take your voicemail and transcribe it.

    4. Re:Google did it by Hadlock · · Score: 3, Interesting

      It is about 70-85% perfect with all callers, and about 97% perfect with people who regularly leave voicemails like family members. In either case it's good enough for me to know what's going on and if I need to call back in the next 15 minutes or not. If there are four sentences and it picks up 3 out of 4 nouns and verbs generally you can figure it out. And that's all I really care about. If I save 30 minutes per week not listening to voicemail, that's a huge win for me. Listening to voicemail ranks up there with getting a root canal for me.

      --
      moox. for a new generation.
    5. Re:Google did it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My thoughts exactly. In fact, Apple users can use it by setting up their Forward After X Rings option in Phone Settings to their Google Voice email. When a VoiceMail arrives, they'd get an email.

    6. Re:Google did it by Jason+Levine · · Score: 2

      I am a Google Voice user and that functionality is there. I can mark a caller as spam and have them get a "This number is no longer in service" message in the future. Other Google Voice users marking callers as spam means that I'll often be notified that a spammer called me but my phone won't ring.

      --
      My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.
    7. Re:Google did it by lexman098 · · Score: 1

      No you don't understand. This is REVOLUTIONARY!

    8. Re:Google did it by chuckugly · · Score: 1

      Google voice has trouble with people who have heavy accents, other than that it's good enough. In fact even with that, it's good enough.

    9. Re:Google did it by avandesande · · Score: 1

      Vonage has been doing this as least as long... Apple is innovating by bringing this to cellphones and screwing carries out of voicemail minutes. Hey I don't care if they don't deserve credit if they bring us something users really want more power to them.

      --
      love is just extroverted narcissism
    10. Re:Google did it by Atzanteol · · Score: 1

      Most voice-mails are of *terrible* quality (listen to them sometime - people mumble, etc.). But even still GV does a pretty good job. And it does a very good job with numbers. So it's great for that person who left you a long rambling voice-mail with their phone-number half-way through. Oh - and the phone number will be "clickable" in GV to boot.

      --
      "Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge"

      - Charles Darwin
    11. Re:Google did it by swillden · · Score: 1

      Apple is innovating by bringing this to cellphones and screwing carries out of voicemail minutes.

      Assuming anyone even cares about minutes any more, Google Voice does the same. When GV answers your phone and takes voicemail it doesn't use your cell minutes. And users of GV rarely dial in to listen to their voicemails either; the transcription is so good they just glance at the e-mail/SMS/Hangout message and get what they need to from it.

      Apple may indeed be able to find some way to innovate in this space, but simply transcribing voicemails isn't going to do it.

      --
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    12. Re:Google did it by Dixie_Flatline · · Score: 2

      I can do that on my iPhone without the voice component. I just block the number, and the phone rings forever on their side without my phone ever picking up.

    13. Re:Google did it by Mr_Silver · · Score: 3, Informative

      Isn't this basically Google Voice? Google records the message, transcribes it to text.

      I doubt the people living outside of the USA are going to care about that ... considering it's been 6 years since Google Voice launched and not even a subset of that functionality has made it over the Atlantic Ocean.

      As far as we'll be concerned, SpinVox did it first and then (hopefully) Apple did it.

      --
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    14. Re:Google did it by Chelloveck · · Score: 1

      Love Google Voice. On their own most of the transcripts are laughably bad, but if you know who is calling and can imagine them speaking as you read the jumble of words you can usually understand it well enough. Can't remember the last time I had to actually listen to my voice mail.

      Of course, knowing Apple they're going to claim that this is all a remarkable invention on their part. Just think, now it's Siri asking you to leave a message at the tone instead of some nameless generic voice. Innovation!

      --
      Chelloveck
      I give up on debugging. From now on, SIGSEGV is a feature.
    15. Re:Google did it by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 1

      Comcast does it as well. When I had their phone service, any calls I got would automatically be transcribed (often with humorous effect) and sent to me via e-mail. The only bad thing is it went to my Comcast e-mail address, which I almost never check.

      --
      Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
  10. Please someone think of the children.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kids don't give a crap about voicemail, reading and transcribing SMS could actually save lives though...oh yeah, Apple is now designing for the OAPs though, no other reason for bigger screens. Sigh.

  11. Wife calls, gets Siri by PPH · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wife: Who was that answering your phone?
    Me: That was Siri.
    Wife: Who is Siri? Some hot new intern at your company?
    Me: No, dear. Siri is a computer.
    Wife: Sure she is. Why does she sound so sexy?
    Me: I don't know. That's just how they programmed her.
    Wife: Well, it had better be a computer. Or you are in big trouble.

    Me (later, talking to girlfriend): Good move imitating Siri when my wife called last night. But the next time I'm in the shower, just let it go to voicemail.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
    1. Re:Wife calls, gets Siri by Virtucon · · Score: 1

      Wife: Siri find me a divorce lawyer.

      --
      Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
  12. Simple, but something I'd want. by cant_get_a_good_nick · · Score: 1

    I used to have Google voice. It made sense for a bit when I could have a second phone number mapped to my work phone. My work phone was a Blackberry, and as Google stopped working on the BlackBerry apps, it became less useful. Also we ended up having a SSL MITM appliance, and Google (wisely) does Cert Pinning, which broke the BlackBerry apps. I eventually dropped it and got a personal iPhone, but there were some things i missed.

    Apple plugged some of the holes. Messages and Continuity allow me to type on my Mac with a real keyboard. But I missed the VoiceMail transcriptions. VoiceMail does kind of suck, and sometimes it was handy to be able to glance at a text and see what it's about. Google Voice didn't do that great of a job of transcription, but usually you'd have an idea of what someone was calling you about, and having a 60% transcription success rate was actually useful.

    So, this is the last major gap with Google Voice for me. If this comes through in iOS 9.x some time, i'll be one of the first to turn it on.

  13. YouMail does this quite well... by mlts · · Score: 1

    I've been quite happy with YouMail for exactly this. It not just transcribes messages, but allows you to save the voice mails, not to mention ditch problem callers, either those on the robocall lists or people you don't want to deal with.

    Plus, it can play a different voice mail greeting per caller if you want.

    Of course, this works regardless of phone. If I'm using my iPhone, it works. I swapped the SIM to my HTC device? Still works. No platform lockdown.

  14. My last 3 android phones have had this feature by FreeUser · · Score: 0

    Taking and transcribing voicemail? My last 3 phones, all Android and going back at least four years, have had this feature. Is Apple really that far behind, that this feature comes out as News, and what's more, implies that they invented it?

    Christ, does anyone editing this site actually keep up with technology?

    --
    The Future of Human Evolution: Autonomy
  15. hello by zlives · · Score: 2

    This is John Doe's personal assistant Siri, see how nice it is to have a personal assistant which comes with the iPhone. from the number you are dialing it is apparent that you do not have an iPhone, you too can be hip/cool with an iPhone, buy an iPhone now. btw John is in the john taking a dump he thought it was way better to impress you with this knowledge than a casual unavailability notice. Buy an iPhone...you can leave a message after the BEEP and be sure to enunciate clearly for the transcription to text. BEEP

  16. Google Voice and Skype have had this for years by mspohr · · Score: 1

    About time...
    Google Voice has been doing this for at least five years... Skype has been doing it for a year or two.
    Hopefully it will work better than their initial maps implementation.

    --
    I don't read your sig. Why are you reading mine?
    1. Re:Google Voice and Skype have had this for years by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I was an intern at a LogicaCMG division that was doing this in 2006 and their product had already been active and in use for years before that (mostly in Europe). There is absolutely nothing new about this. Their system let you sent and receive your messages however you wanted them. Voicemail to email with attached audio, voicemail to text email, text email to automated phone call, etc... I don't think they had txt message support at that time, but I believe they had beeper notifications.

      Why do such things take so long to get to end users? Even Apple's new service is still a service. I'd much rather have the full program. Well, I guess there's always Asterisk which was started in 1999 and has all the same features plus more...

  17. Android users missing the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    I know Google Voice has provided this for some time. I know you can use 3rd party service YouMail. You're missing the point.

    Apple is pushing for user privacy. This means that the voicemail would be transcribed by Siri on *your* phone. Nobody else would have access to it to store it or scrape it or learn from it. Not in "the cloud".

    1. Re:Android users missing the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nobody else would have access to it to store it or scrape it or learn from it. except by the other end and/or in transit. This is a phone call.

    2. Re:Android users missing the point by Tyger · · Score: 1

      Reading comprehension fail?

      From the summary (Not even the article, so this isn't a high bar): The iCloud service would then send users the text of that transcribed voicemail.

      I guess "iCloud" is not in "the cloud"?

    3. Re:Android users missing the point by LunaticTippy · · Score: 1

      I know Google Voice has provided this for some time. I know you can use 3rd party service YouMail. You're missing the point. Apple is pushing for user privacy. This means that the voicemail would be transcribed by Siri on *your* phone. Nobody else would have access to it to store it or scrape it or learn from it. Not in "the cloud".

      What the hell are you talking about? Siri can't do jack-diddly without the internets. Won't even set a fricking timer or tell me what time it is. Every single thing Siri does is reported to and processed by the Apple mothership.

      --
      Man, you really need that seminar!
    4. Re:Android users missing the point by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I know Google Voice has provided this for some time. I know you can use 3rd party service YouMail. You're missing the point.

      Apple is pushing for user privacy. This means that the voicemail would be transcribed by Siri on *your* phone. Nobody else would have access to it to store it or scrape it or learn from it. Not in "the cloud".

      Small problem with that theory. Siri sends all data to the cloud for processing, otherwise it would work without an Internet connection. It doesn't.

    5. Re:Android users missing the point by Solandri · · Score: 1

      Apple is pushing for user privacy. This means that the voicemail would be transcribed by Siri on *your* phone. Nobody else would have access to it to store it or scrape it or learn from it. Not in "the cloud".

      Erm... When you ask Siri a question, your voice gets recorded, the file gets sent over the Internet to Apple's servers, which do the voice recognition, and send the equivalent text back to your phone so it can act on it. It very much happens in "the cloud." Just like Android's voice recognition. (Which by the way predates Siri by about a year - I was using it for sending texts and doing web searches before Apple ever announced Siri. Google just didn't come up with the "brilliant" idea of anthropomorphizing it and and giving it a name.)

      Anyway, this feature has been on Sprint phones since 2011, when they integrated Google Voice with your Sprint account (your Sprint phone number is your Google Voice number). They tried to sell it as a value-added feature at first, letting you try it for free for a month, charging a monthly fee if you wanted to continue to use it. But with Voice's integration into Hangouts last year, it seems to have become free. I'm getting it and I'm not paying anything for it.

      I'm actually surprised at how accurate it is, though it obviously has problems with proper nouns, and when peoplespeaksofasttheirwordsslurtogether. On your computer, it's been available since 2009 with Google Voice (arguably Google made it to collect a varied sample of real-world speech to improve their speech recognition algorithms, not to showcase how good their voice recognition algorithms were.)

  18. Already have it. by Virtucon · · Score: 1

    My carrier, T-Mobile already offers this for voicemails. Let me guess Apple will try to patent speech to text now?

    --
    Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
    1. Re:Already have it. by TrancePhreak · · Score: 1

      WOPR: Would you like to play a game?
      Apple: How about Global Thermonuclear Patent Warfare

      --

      -]Phreak Out[-
    2. Re:Already have it. by wheelert · · Score: 1

      hahaha patent Text to Speech sounds like something Apple would try

  19. I can't wait! by jjeffries · · Score: 1

    Ample Text In Cervix Dad All Owls Siri 2 An Circles Ant Rans Ride Boys Males

  20. Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Siri will have to develop an IQ well beyond its current 10 IQ before it is capable to answer anything slightly nontrivial.

  21. Small steps to full AI future by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I welcome the day when I tell Siri I just got into an accident and Siri automatically ask me if I'm hurt and offer to call 911 for me. Even better if Siri links with the car computer and detects the accident. No response means the driver is incapacitated and Siri calls 911 with the exact location.

  22. Various accents by CanEHdian · · Score: 1

    Now add English-spoken voice with various accents (German, Jaimaican, French, Russian, Spanish, etc.) and phrasing/verbiage and you've got a winner!

    --
    When the copyright term is "forever minus a day", live every day like it's the last.
  23. "User privacy" coming from a proprietor? How naive by jbn-o · · Score: 1

    Based on what evidence do you conclude that "Apple is pushing for user privacy"? Even if the software ran on one's tracker, the transcript or audio of any call could easily be uploaded wherever a proprietary software developer and distributor wants without the user's awareness or informed consent. Voice transcription is an important part of better indexing people's calls, which better serves multiple interests including targetted retrieval of the kind Snowden has told us organizations have been doing for some time now.

    --
    Digital Citizen