Apple tests Siri to control apps by voice; banking and health limited

Apple is testing a substantially evolved Siri that would let users control apps with voice across iPhone, iPad, Mac and Vision Pro, but critical banking and health apps are likely to be limited or disabled until reliability improves. The long-promised assistant overhaul hinges on a redesigned App Intents system that would enable Siri to perform complex, multi-step actions inside apps without touching the screen. The company has halted full rollout of the new features for high-stakes categories while it continues to trial the technology with its own software and a slate of popular third-party apps, with a target to begin broader availability in the next year and a full expansion into other contexts later in 2026.

In its current testing phase, Apple is assessing how Siri can initiate and sequence tasks inside apps using only voice—beyond launching apps or triggering automations in Shortcuts. Demonstrations during development have shown Siri can locate a photo, edit it and share it, or add items to a shopping cart within a third-party app, all initiated by voice. The initiative also aims to extend Siri’s “personal context” capabilities, allowing it to recall past interactions and...