Siri gives the iPhone a conversational interface

Apple introduced the iPhone 4S today with Siri, a voice-controlled assistant described as a beta. Users can ask natural-language questions, dictate messages, set reminders and request information without navigating through a series of menus.

Siri draws on the phone’s built-in applications and outside information services. Apple demonstrated requests for weather, restaurants, alarms and calendar entries, including follow-up language whose meaning depends on the previous request.

Voice control is not new, but Siri attempts something broader than matching a small list of commands. If it handles ordinary phrasing reliably, it could make a phone useful while walking or driving and lower the effort required for small everyday tasks. Its beta label is significant: accents, background noise, network access and incomplete answers will determine whether conversation feels natural or frustrating.