Apple introduced the “Hey Siri” command with iOS 8 to allow users to easily interact with the virtual assistant without pressing any buttons. But over the years, this has resulted in Siri being accidentally triggered when the command is read aloud in a TV commercial. But Apple is finally working on a fix for this.
Apple ads will no longer trigger Siri
As discovered by 9to5Macthe latest tvOS 18.2 beta released this week introduced a new framework called “AdBlocker.” While the name suggests at first glance that this would just be an online ad blocker, we dug deeper and found something exciting about this new framework.
The new AdBlocker framework is linked to ShazamKit, which is the API for apps to use Shazam – the song identification platform that was bought by Apple in 2018. At the same time, the framework also links to the process responsible for handling “Siri” and “Hey Siri” voice commands on Apple devices.
The code suggests that “AdBlocker” will download audio fingerprints from Apple’s servers and then use the Shazam API to match them against audio captured by the device’s microphones using the Hey Siri API. When certain audio files match, the new framework will temporarily disable Siri’s trigger commands.
Presumably, Apple will use audio fingerprinting from its TV commercials and keynotes to prevent mentions of Siri from triggering the virtual assistant on users’ devices.
Currently, the AdBlocker framework has only been found in tvOS 18.2, which suggests that Apple wants to implement it on the HomePod first. During 2019, many HomePod owners complained after Apple aired an AirPods ad with a person asking Siri to play a song. As a result, even people’s HomePods responded to the request.
Apple is expected to release tvOS 18.2 in December. The update also enables support for different aspect ratios on Apple TV.
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