Apple’s Siri AI Still Falls Behind Gemini and Alexa+, Raising Questions About Its Future

Apple has made significant improvements to Siri with its latest Apple Intelligence updates, but the voice assistant still appears to be struggling to match the capabilities of competing AI platforms. Recent reviews of Apple’s HomeView smart display and the new Apple TV 4K highlight several shortcomings that could become a bigger problem for the company as AI becomes increasingly important across consumer electronics.

According to a recent opinion piece by Tom’s Guide, Siri still falls behind assistants such as Google Gemini, Amazon Alexa+, ChatGPT and Muse in several everyday situations. The gap is particularly noticeable when users expect an assistant to understand complex requests, complete multiple actions or provide useful recommendations.

Apple HomeView struggles to match Alexa+

Apple’s HomeView is designed to bring Siri and Apple Intelligence into the home, but early comparisons suggest that its assistant may not be as capable as Amazon’s Alexa+.

In one comparison with Amazon’s Echo Show 8, a reviewer was able to order a pizza through Uber Eats using Alexa+. Siri, however, reportedly offered to make a phone call instead of completing the requested task.

Other reported problems include difficulties handling multi-step household requests and limited functionality when an iPhone is outside the device’s range. In some situations, Siri reportedly falls back on general knowledge rather than providing the more personalized assistance users expect.

These limitations raise questions about whether HomeView can compete effectively in a market where smart displays are increasingly expected to act as intelligent household assistants.

Siri delivers disappointing results on the new Apple TV 4K

The new Apple TV 4K also highlights some of Siri’s limitations. Apple is promoting its AI capabilities as part of the device’s entertainment experience, but testing has reportedly produced inconsistent recommendations.

For example, when asked to suggest scary movies suitable for children, Siri initially failed to find relevant options. After the request was rephrased, it reportedly recommended films such as Poltergeist, Alien and Seven.

By comparison, Google TV Streamer and Amazon Fire TV reportedly suggested more suitable family-friendly titles, including Coraline, Goosebumps 2, Hocus Pocus and The Addams Family.

Siri also struggled with a request to identify a film starring Audrey Hepburn that takes place in Rome, returning unrelated Christmas movies instead.

These examples suggest that Apple's entertainment assistant still needs improvement in understanding natural-language requests and delivering relevant search results.

Siri AI on iPhone has improved, but important features are missing

The situation is not entirely negative on the iPhone. Siri has become more capable of understanding personal context and finding information across messages and other content.

It can also handle certain multi-step requests. In one example, a reviewer asked Siri to find highly rated restaurants near Bryant Park within a specific price range, then prepare a message containing their addresses and recommended dishes. The assistant reportedly completed the task successfully.

However, two major capabilities remain missing compared with competing AI assistants: live video conversations and more advanced agentic features.

Google Gemini Live allows users to share a live camera feed and receive assistance based on what the camera sees. This can be useful for troubleshooting household problems, identifying objects or getting instructions while working on something.

Siri currently supports sharing on-screen content, but it does not offer the same live video interaction. This limitation could make Gemini more appealing to people who regularly use AI for practical, real-world assistance.

Siri also lacks some of the advanced task automation capabilities that competitors are developing. For example, users cannot simply ask it to book an Uber or complete complicated tasks independently in the background.

Google Gemini is becoming a bigger challenge for Apple

Google is expanding Gemini beyond smartphones, bringing its AI assistant into new categories such as smart glasses. Its Intelligent Eyewear products, developed with brands including Warby Parker and Gentle Monster, reportedly start at $395.

These glasses can support calls, music playback, navigation and real-time translation. Their built-in cameras also allow Gemini to understand what users are looking at and provide assistance based on their surroundings.

Importantly, the glasses are compatible with iPhones, meaning Apple users can access Google's AI ecosystem without switching to an Android smartphone.

Apple is reportedly exploring its own AI-powered products, including smart glasses, an AI pendant and camera-equipped AirPods. However, the success of these devices could depend heavily on whether Siri becomes capable enough to deliver a competitive experience.

Siri's shortcomings could become an ecosystem problem

Apple's strength has traditionally come from how closely its devices and services work together. However, as AI assistants become more advanced, hardware integration alone may not be enough to keep users committed to one ecosystem.

If competitors offer more useful AI experiences across smartphones, smart displays, televisions and wearable devices, some Apple customers may begin relying on alternative platforms.

The concerns highlighted in the Tom's Guide report do not mean Apple has failed to improve Siri. The assistant already offers better personal-context understanding and can perform more complex actions than earlier versions. However, inconsistent results, missing live video capabilities and limited autonomous task execution remain important weaknesses.

Apple will need to address these gaps if it wants Siri to remain a central part of its future products. With Google and Amazon continuing to expand their AI ecosystems, the pressure on Apple is growing.