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Research finds the sound of chirping birds can be used to hack Alexa

Your voice assistant may not be as safe as you think it is. According to researchers in Germany, the Alexas, Siris, and Assistants of the world can be hacked with manipulated audio files that hide hidden commands. They may sound like birds chirping to a human, but A.I. assistants can hear secret messages.

New patent suggests multiuser support could one day come to Siri

A new patent suggests that a major improvement may be in the works for Apple's digital assistant. Apple may soon work on implementing multiuser support for Siri, which could provide practical and privacy-related benefits. All we have right now is a patent, which does not mean Apple is actively working on this software.
uks defense secretary heckled by siri during speech

Watch as the U.K.’s defense secretary gets ‘heckled’ by Siri during a speech

Has Siri ever piped up seemingly out of the blue? It happened to a leading member of the U.K. government this week as he was giving a speech to the British parliament. Apple's digital assistant apparently mistook the mention of "Syria" for "Hey, Siri," causing it to offer up some information on the war-torn country.
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5 reasons I still hate voice assistants, even as the world goes nuts for them

I have multiple devices that I can talk to, and outside of telling Siri to turn off the lights when I go to bed (because I’m a lazy, terribly person), I don’t talk to a single one of them. In fact, I’ve disabled the voice-activation function of all the ones that I can. I don’t like talking to my devices. I find it silly, and I don’t find it makes my life any easier.
Apple Homepod

Apple HomePod tips and tricks to get you started

Did you know your Apple HomePod can do way more than play music? If you don't already know these HomePod tips and tricks, you'll be glad you read them. Learn about how to unlock the full set of features available on your HomePod.
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Fewer parents name baby girls Alexa after Amazon Echo debut

Alexa was never a top-10 U.S. baby girl name, but now, after Amazon used the name for the Echo smart speaker voice assistant, even fewer parents choose it for their newborns. Siri is a much less popular name for girls in the U.S. than Alexa, but it too has seen a decline. "Hey, Google" was never a contender.

Study shows Google Assistant is smarter than its rivals

Amazon's Alexa and Microsoft's Cortana saw strong improvement over last year, but Google Assistant still leads the pack when it comes to A.I. Siri, on the other hand, did not fare so well.
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An ‘NBA on TNT’ ad is triggering people’s HomePods and they are not pleased

You may not be the only one controlling your smart assistant -- savvy advertisers are in on the game, too. Per a new report from Apple Insider, there's an NBA on TNT ad that features the phrase, "Don't wanna miss out? Hey Siri show me the NBA schedule," which triggers the HomePod, much to many a user's chagrin. 
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New Apple patent could help Siri learn newly created words and phrases

Apple has been awarded a new patent that could prove that the company is actively working on improving Siri. The patent describes technology that can recognize new words and phrases -- essentially helping prevent the digital assistant from getting outdated.
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Apple iPhone 2020: Gesture controls, MicroLED and curved screens?

Hints pop up that Apple may have many more changes in store for future iPhones, Tim Cook nabs a top A.I. guy from Google, we talk with the designers behind Jaguar's impressive I-Pace EV.
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Apple’s latest hire just might make Siri seriously smarter

Siri launched several years before Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant, but it has fallen behind in terms of usability and features. That could be about to change.

Amazon is hiring even more Alexa people than Apple is hiring for Siri

It would appear that Apple is looking to hire tons and tons of bright minds to work on Siri, but Amazon is hiring even more for Alexa.
Siri Event Maven

Siri: Apple is on a hiring spree to make its digital assistant smarter

Apple has embarked on a major recruitment drive in recent months to bolster its team of engineers working on Siri.
Apple Homepod

Some HomePod users say the device leaves ring stains on wooden furniture

Apple HomePod users are apparently complaining about white rings left on their wooden tables from the device. Apple suggested that users refinish their furniture to remove it if it doesn't fade.

As the HomePod hits stores, Apple shares tips to get the most out of it

Apple's long-awaited HomePod smart speaker is finally here, and to ensure new owners get the most out of it, the tech giant has posted an official user guide.
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Siri, can you hear me? Not at CES

Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa dominated CES 2018, through compatibility with nearly every smarthome device we saw. But Apple HomeKit and Siri were barely seen. What gives?
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As Alexa, Google Assistant dominate CES, Apple and Microsoft face tough decisions

Alexa continued to rack up integration wins at CES this year, and Google is struggling to keep pace. Is it too late for Microsoft and Apple?
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Apple’s digital assistant Siri could soon be whispering sweet nothings to you

There may be times, such as when you're out and about, when you'd prefer Siri to whisper back its response. Apple is looking into the idea.
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No HomePod for Christmas: Apple pushes release of smart home speaker to 2018

Apple's anticipated smart speaker, the HomePod, will not be released in December as planned. Instead fans will have to wait until 2018.
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You can stuff Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant inside this talking teddy bear

Wetwire Robotics, launched a Kickstarter campaign to build animatronic talking toys that integrate with Alexa, Siri and More.
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Apple cozies up to Google with Siri and Spotlight search results

Google is now the default search engine for Siri and Spotlight on iOS and MacOS. But Bing will continue to serve up image results.
Type to Siri

How to Type to Siri on your iPhone or iPad with iOS 11

In iOS 11, users can enter commands for Siri instead of having to speak out loud. Here's how you can enable the Type to Siri feature.
Sylvania

Light up your life with the Sylvania Smart+ bulbs, now available for pre-order

Bringing light into your life may have gotten a bit easier with the official introduction of the Sylvania Smart+ light bulbs.
Siri Event Maven

The rise of the smart assistant no longer equates to the rise of Siri

As per a new report from Verto Analytics, Siri has experienced a 15-percent decline in monthly users since last year.
Siri Event Maven

If you're looking for a job, consider becoming a Siri Event Maven

In the job market? Here's an option -- on Monday, Apple posted a new job description for a role called the Siri Event Maven.
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Will Siri take on Alexa and Google Home? We’ll find out at WWDC

Also today: Microsoft goofs up a Win10 update, and Wonder Woman is set to rule the box office this weekend, so check out our review.
Siri Event Maven

Our Siri guide: How to merge your life with Apple’s witty virtual assistant

Apple's virtual assistant isn't the easiest piece of tech to grasp. Here's how to set it up, and make use of its robust functionality.
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Siri calls 911 after iPhone owner severely injured in a house explosion

Christopher Beaucher says that if it weren't for Siri, he may not have lived to tell the tale of how he escaped an exploding house.
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Apple engineers are reportedly testing Apple’s ‘Siri speaker’ in their homes

Apple is said to be moving toward finalizing the design of its Amazon Echo speaker, suggesting it could be unveiled in the coming months.
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Bixby, Samsung's virtual assistant, is rapping insults to Siri in Korean

Samsung's virtual assistant for the Galaxy S8, Bixby, has gained its voice in Korea this week, and is showing off its rapping skills.
genie multi language voice assistant

Say bonjour to Siri with the Genie, a speaker that supports foreign languages

The Genie is a Bluetooth speaker that lets you use Siri or Google Now in more than 50 different languages and dialects.
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Siri could one day respond to your voice — and your voice alone

As per a new patent application, it would appear that Apple is working on a new security feature for voice recognition.

Alexa, why aren’t you a dude? How female digital assistants reinforce stereotypes

From Apple's Siri to Microsoft's Alexa, digital assistant almost always default to female. What effect does that have users?
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Siri could be giving up your secrets, even if your iPhone is locked

You've always trusted Siri to help you out in a tight spot, but she may not be as loyal as you think, as one Twitter user discovered.