Apple has simply launched the third beta of iOS 26.2 because it eyes a possible December launch. The replace isn’t an enormous one, nevertheless it does deliver some fascinating enhancements, resembling additional tweaks to the Liquid Glass interface, offline lyrics in Apple Music, and enhancements to Apple Podcasts. Underneath the hood, nevertheless, the replace revealed one thing much more fascinating: the flexibility to switch Siri with one other voice assistant.
How Apple plans to let customers swap Siri for an additional choice
Code hidden in iOS 26.2 beta 3, which is now obtainable to builders, reveals that Apple has been creating a brand new framework to permit customers to decide on a special default voice assistant. It’s nonetheless unclear how precisely the function will work, because it’s presently disabled for customers, however references within the code give us an concept.
As seen by Macworld, there can be a brand new part within the Settings app to let customers select one other voice assistant because the default. When one other voice assistant is chosen, it may be activated utilizing the aspect button identical to Siri. In earlier betas of iOS 26.2, Macworld had already discovered proof that Apple was experimenting with customizable controls for the aspect button on the iPhone.
Though the code is sort of preliminary, it means that third-party voice assistants will even be capable to present some form of particular interface on the iPhone’s Residence Display screen (identified internally as Springboard) as a substitute of merely opening a separate app.
For instance, such a function might enable customers to change from Siri to ChatGPT or Gemini at a better degree system, with deeper integrations.
In recent times, Apple has been making iOS extra open with regards to decisions resembling setting default apps for sure actions. As we speak’s findings align with a Bloomberg report from Could, which claimed that Apple was planning to let customers swap from Siri to a different voice assistant to adjust to European Union rules.
In fact, the choice also needs to fulfill customers who’ve been sad with Apple’s personal digital assistant, particularly on condition that the corporate has but to ship the brand new technology of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence. However once more, the function might find yourself being restricted for customers within the EU.
