Apple has been granted a patent for a “multi-modal digital assistant” that may hint at features in the upcoming (and long-delayed) “more personalized” Siri.
About the patent
The patent relates generally to intelligent automated assistants and, more specifically, to operating intelligent automated assistants in various modes. In the patent Apple notes that intelligent automated assistants (or digital assistants) can provide a beneficial interface between human users and electronic devices.
Such assistants can allow users to interact with devices or systems using natural language in spoken and/or text forms. For example, a user can provide a speech input containing a user request to a digital assistant operating on an electronic device. Per the newly granted patent, the digital assistant can interpret the user’s intent from the speech input and operationalize the user’s intent into tasks. The tasks can then be performed by executing one or more services of the electronic device, and a relevant output responsive to the user request can be returned to the user.
Summary of the patent
Here’s Apple’s (long-winded) abstract of the patent: “Systems and processes for a multi-modal digital assistant are provided. An example method includes, at a computer system, while operating in a hands-free operating mode, receiving a natural-language speech input indicative of a task; in response to receiving the natural-language speech input, initiating performance of the task; and providing an output corresponding to the task, wherein providing the output includes displaying a first user interface associated with an application, the first user interface displayed according to the hands-free operating mode; while displaying the first user interface, receiving, via the one or more input devices, a touch input at a location corresponding to the first user interface; and in response to the touch input: transitioning from the hands-free operating mode to a hands-on operating mode different than the hands-free operating mode; and launching the application, wherein launching the application includes displaying a second user interface according to the hands-on operating mode.”
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