Tech

Apple is rolling out Siri to some non-Apple devices — but you might need a HomePod to use the digital assistant

Apple HomePod
A HomePod smart speaker. Olly Curtis/Future via Getty Images
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Apple said Monday that it would start allowing customers to make requests via Siri through non-Apple devices.

The company made the announcement at its annual Worldwide Developer's Conference, where it also unveiled its iOS 15 software update.

Apple said in a press release that starting immediately, smart home device makers can work with Apple to integrate Siri into their products.

Apple said Siri can be enabled on accessories that are compatible with HomeKit, Apple's universal remote-like app that you can use to control smart home devices.

Third-party accessory makers will be able to "relay requests through HomePod or HomePod mini and will support features such as Personal Requests, Intercom, timers, and alarms." 

Read more: Apple's new major iOS change lets you decide if you want brands to track you across apps. Most people are opting out, and it's already crushing advertisers.

It's unclear if customers will be able to use iPhones to make requests via Siri on their third-party devices, or if the service is only available through HomePod and HomePod mini. Apple did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

Apple said in March that it was discontinuing its original $350 HomePod smart speaker, but it will still focus on its $99 HomePod Mini, which is launched in fall 2020.

As Tom's Guide notes, Apple's HomeKit isn't compatible with as many third-party devices as Amazon and Google's digital assistants are.

And when Apple launched its original HomePod in 2018, it competed with the likes of Amazon Echo and Google Home but fell flat with consumers.

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Katie is a tech and crypto reporter based in Austin, Texas. She joined Insider in 2018 and focuses heavily on NFTs, blockchain technology, major crypto players, and the booming Web3 space. She has also covered the many happenings in the tech industry, from content moderation and data privacy to antitrust issues and regulation.  Katie graduated from Texas A&M University in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. She began her time at Insider in the company's San Francisco office before moving home to Texas in 2021. You can find her paddleboarding most Saturdays. Reach her at kcanales@jkmperu.com, or follow her on Twitter @KatieCanales1.