In the recent year, advancements in AI voice assistants have been notable, with Google Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT showcasing enhanced capabilities in handling intricate queries and providing valuable information to users. However, Apple’s Siri appears to be lagging in this competitive landscape. To address this, Apple is gearing up to offer iPhone users the option to utilize third-party voice assistants.
In the latest iOS 26.2 beta 3 release, Apple has confirmed that iPhone users will soon have the flexibility to substitute Siri with third-party voice assistants. According to the official developer documentation from the company, users will have the ability to activate third-party assistants through the Side Button on their iPhones.
Regrettably, Apple has specified that this feature will be restricted to users in Japan. Apple’s developer notes indicate, “In Japan, people might place an action on the side button of iPhone that instantly launches your voice-based conversational app.” However, the availability of this choice for consumers will also rely on app developers updating their applications to support the new system.
For this feature to work, the user’s Apple Account region must be set to Japan, and the device needs to be physically present in the country. Apple’s decision to introduce support for third-party assistants in Japan aligns with the guidelines outlined in the Mobile Software Competition Act by the Japan Fair Trade Commission. This move by Apple is seen as a response to local regulatory requirements rather than a global policy shift at this juncture.
Although users outside Japan may feel left out, Apple is reportedly gearing up for a significant overhaul of Siri in the near future. It is rumored that Apple will invest $1 billion in partnering with Google to introduce a Siri model based on Gemini next year. Apple aims to ensure that this new model operates exclusively on its servers, with no user data accessible to Google or any third parties.