Apple's Siri AI is making its way onto the Mac, and early impressions are mixed. After years of ignoring Siri, I'm giving it another shot, and here's what I've learned in my first 24 hours with the new Siri AI on macOS 27 Golden Gate.
I'm still in the early stages of testing, but I've already noticed some interesting capabilities and limitations. Siri AI can help with tasks like searching for files, analyzing data, and even offering suggestions for photo editing. However, it's not a perfect assistant, and there are some areas where it falls short.
One of the most intriguing features is Siri's ability to analyze data from screenshots. I tried using it to calculate averages from benchmark results, and it worked well most of the time. It could distinguish between single-core and multicore CPU scores, and even arrange the results in easy-to-read tables. However, it struggled with mixed data sets, and sometimes pulled the wrong information. This is a great start, but I'd like to see Siri AI become more accurate and reliable in handling complex data sets.
Siri AI also has some limitations when it comes to integrating with non-Apple apps. It can't access files in non-Apple apps like Lightroom Classic, even though the files are stored locally. This is a significant drawback, and I'd like to see Siri AI become more versatile in handling files across different ecosystems.
Another interesting feature is Siri's ability to offer suggestions for photo editing. I uploaded a classic Garry Winograd photo and asked Siri to suggest Lightroom settings to match the photo. While it offered some helpful suggestions, it also made some mistakes, like recommending an exposure setting that was already set. This is a promising start, but I'd like to see Siri AI become more accurate and reliable in offering photo editing suggestions.
Overall, Siri AI is a step in the right direction for Apple, but it's still early days. I'm optimistic about its future, but I'd like to see it become more accurate, reliable, and versatile in handling complex tasks. It's a baby's first real AI steps, and I'm curious to see how it evolves over time.
