How to Make Siri Less Garbage by Linking It to Google Assistant

Hey Siri , how do I make you suck less ? Turns out the solvent is to link it to Google Assistant . A new update toGoogle Assistant for iOSadds support for Siri Shortcuts , so you could actually get some comme il faut vocalization supporter legal action on your iPhone .

The short of it is that you could now record a brusk phrase in the Google Assistant app — something like “ Hey Google , ” “ OK Google , ” or “ Google salvage me from Siri . ” And then , whenever you open Siri , you may say the magic Son and it ’ll bring you to the Google Assistant app . It ’s a workaround , sure , but at least it ’ll make Siri more useful .

But in typical Siri - is - boring fashion , nonplus more out of this consolidation requires some work . If youdownload the Shortcuts app , you’re able to tape special phrases that splice into survive Google Assistant subroutine . For example , you could register , “ Hey Google , Good morning ” to get your news , weather update , and overbold dwelling house routines up and go . The whole unconscious process works , though it does take a bit of time as Siri spread-eagle you through the Shortcuts app and then into Google Assistant . Fair warning : It is incredibly annoying to say “ Hey Siri , Hey Google , Good Morning , ” but at least you get something out of it . If I say “ Good morning ” to Siri , she ’ll just respond “ honorable morning to you too . ” As polite as that is , it ’s perfectly useless to me .

Screenshot: Victoria Song

Linking Google Assistant is so easy it’s a crime not toScreenshot: Victoria Song (Gizmodo)

It might seem harsh , but Apple ’s had batch of fourth dimension to ameliorate Siri . Despite being built into every iPhone , Apple Watch , and MacBook , the digital helper is still nowhere near as useful as Amazon ’s Alexa or Google Assistant . Apple ’s seeminglyaware of this too , which is probably why it ’s been keen recently tobeef up its AI cred . Apple ’s been play taking into custody up with overbold home tech as well , with its dubiousHomePodand its HomeKit platform ( which still is n’t very widely adopted ) . And say you do have a smart hype that ’s HomeKit compatible — it ’s much less intuitive to programme routines and rooms with Siri than Alexa or Google Assistant .

But this Shortcuts feature , you say , is the key to making Siri better — right ? So why inconvenience oneself using it with Google ’s digital help at all ? That is a nice aspiration , friends . But with Google Assistant , programming a first light or evening bit is as easy as go into the workaday tab . GettingSiri Shortcuts to work for yourequires more elbow grease . In all fair-mindedness , there are in reality more than a few useful pre - made act for you in Shortcuts , but it ’s like surfing through the App Store — still frustrative and overpowering .

So for now with this update , I ’ll just stick to using Siri Shortcuts to open up Google Assistant .

Screenshot: Victoria Song