Apple Working on Natural Language Updates for Siri, Planning Redesign for macOS Ventura TV App

Thursday March 16, 2023 11:24 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple appears to be working on some kind of natural language update for Siri on the Apple TV along with interface changes to the macOS TV app, according to details 9to5Mac located in the latest tvOS 16.4 and macOS Ventura 13.3 betas.

Information sourced from the tvOS 16.4 beta suggests that Apple has developed a "‌Siri‌ Natural Language Generation" framework, presumably to enhance the personal assistant's natural language capabilities. According to 9to5Mac, Apple is using natural language generation for telling jokes with ‌Siri‌, but as that functionality is on the iPhone and other devices, it is not quite clear what's changed. As 9to5Mac explains:

In the latest tvOS 16.4 beta, Apple has enabled a new framework for "Siri Natural Language Generation" capabilities. As it currently stands, Apple is only using natural language generation for telling jokes with Siri on Apple TV. The company is experimenting with how language generation could be used for timers, as well.

The updated natural language generation framework seems to be limited to tvOS 16.4 and little is known about it at this time, but 9to5Mac suggests that similar (and not activated) code is included in iOS, HomePod OS, iPadOS, and macOS, so whatever ‌Siri‌ features Apple is working on could also come to all devices in the future.

There is no indication that any natural language enhancement for ‌Siri‌ is an attempt by Apple to compete with Google, Microsoft, and others on AI-enhanced chatbots, but it seems that Apple may have some kind of plan to boost ‌Siri‌'s capabilities starting with tvOS 16.4.

Separately, a hidden version of the ‌Apple TV‌ app for Mac in the latest macOS Ventura 13.3 beta demonstrates a new design. There is an added sidebar for navigation, which brings the ‌Apple TV‌ app for Mac in line with the version for the iPad.

Image via 9to5Mac

The sidebar brings easier access to various TV app functions, including ‌Apple TV‌+, Watch Now, the Library, purchasable TV shows and movies, and more. Aside from the sidebar, the interface looks similar to the current TV app.

It's worth noting that the updated version of the TV app is not implemented in the current macOS 13.3 beta, so it could be added in a future beta or Apple could save it for a later software update.

Tags: 9to5Mac, Siri Guide

Popular Stories

Tim Cook Teases Plans for Apple's Upcoming 50th Anniversary

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:54 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple turns 50 this year, and its CEO Tim Cook has promised to celebrate the milestone. The big day falls on April 1, 2026. "I've been unusually reflective lately about Apple because we have been working on what do we do to mark this moment," Cook told employees today, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. "When you really stop and pause and think about the last 50 years, it makes your heart ...

• 148 comments

Apple Rumored to Announce New Product on February 19

Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by Joe Rossignol

Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld. The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld. Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...

Why Apple's iOS 26.4 Siri Upgrade Will Be Bigger Than Originally Promised

Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by Juli Clover

In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do. The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up. Upgraded Architecture The next-generation...

• 154 comments

iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol

While the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate is now available ahead of a public release, the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April. Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far. iOS 26.3 iPhone to Android Transfer Tool iOS 26.3 makes it easier...

• 37 comments

iPhone 18 Pro Max Rumored to Deliver Next-Level Battery Life

Friday February 6, 2026 5:14 am PST by Hartley Charlton

The iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature a bigger battery for continued best-in-class battery life, according to a known Weibo leaker. Citing supply chain information, the Weibo user known as "Digital Chat Station" said that the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,100 to 5,200 mAh. Combined with the efficiency improvements of the A20 Pro chip, made with TSMC's 2nm process, the...

• 107 comments

Top Rated Comments

TheYayAreaLiving ?️

38 months ago

Siri in general needs a lot of work. It's still 10 years behind in iOS.

Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)

MacAddict1978

38 months ago

I suspect she will still respond with "I'm not sure how to help with that" 40% of the time.
I've abandoned all hope for Siri. Was excited for improved dictation.... she cannot use commas correctly to save her soul and get more words wrong than before.

Apple should really throw in the towel and just let other options on their devices. Ones that work.

Make Siri multi lingual already! It is ridiculous.

If I am always writing English with contact A, stupid Siri should be smart enough to read out the message correctly instead of throwing out gibberish or saying „this message is in a different language“. It could even be linked to the dictionary or keyboard used for contact A or B.

The keyboard does it, yet Siri cant! You should hear those messages when Siri tries reading me English messages in German or Spanish ??‍??

She can't even understand simple English - you want them to unleash the pain of her on others?

Siri is way behind. I'm not an amazon fan boy, but Alexa is pretty impressive, especially when compared to Siri.

Siri is not much better than this - least not regarding accuracy.

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

TheYayAreaLiving ?️

38 months ago

Hope they will catch up to GPT.

When ChatGPT meets Siri.

Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)

macsplusmacs

38 months ago

Siri in general needs a lot of work. It's still 10 years behind.

I think the last 3 months post ChatGPT, apple has realized it for real this time and are going to move full bore towards a better Siri / chatting/ LLM based solution.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

contacos

38 months ago

Make Siri multi lingual already! It is ridiculous.

If I am always writing English with contact A, stupid Siri should be smart enough to read out the message correctly instead of throwing out gibberish or saying „this message is in a different language“. It could even be linked to the dictionary or keyboard used for contact A or B.

The keyboard does it, yet Siri cant! You should hear those messages when Siri tries reading me English messages in German or Spanish ??‍??

Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)