What’s Really Happening with Siri AI and Apps
Summary
Indie developer Ryan Wesley discusses the complexities of integrating third-party apps with Siri AI, explaining the distinction between schema domains and app shortcuts. He highlights that many apps claim Siri AI support by using app shortcuts, which often suffer from OS bugs and require specific "magic incantations" to trigger reliably. Wesley shares his experience with his food tracking app, Food Noms, noting the lack of a dedicated food schema forces developers to shoehorn features into generic categories like journaling. He advocates for open-ended MCP-style support as the ideal future …
Topics discussed
Introduction to Ryan Wesley and the Siri AI confusion
Explaining App Intents and Schema Domains
The lack of a food tracking schema and workarounds
Defining App Shortcuts and their implementation
Why Siri AI support is unreliable due to OS bugs
Investigating inconsistent results with third-party apps
User experiences with Bear, Notes, and Reminders
Does Siri AI learn user app preferences over time?
The 'magic incantation' problem and NLP limitations
Ryan's ideal future: MCP support and better shortcuts
Visual Intelligence integration and processing speed issues
Closing remarks and recommendation for Food Noms
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