Apple rolled out iOS 13.2 earlier this week. iOS 13.2 brought a host of new features and security updates to iPhones, which includes new emojis, new camera features for iPhone 11 series smartphones and AirPods Pro support among things. iOS 13.2 also brought new settings pertaining to Siri. With its latest iOS update, Apple resumed the Siri grading program which it had paused back in August this year.
In case you are not sure as to what we are talking about, here’s a quick recap of the recent events: Back in July, a Guardian report noted that the contractual employees deployed by Apple as a part of its Siri grading program – wherein snippets of Siri’s user conversations are analysed for improving the understanding capabilities and responses of Apple’s virtual assistant – were able to listen to users’ private conversations which included their private medical records and even sexual encounters. The report also noted that the recorded coversations were accompanied by other important information such as app data, location and user’s contact details and that it included accidental activations.
Shortly, after the report stormed the internet, Apple paused its Siri grading program, fired its contractual employees who were hired to review Siri’s voice recordings and promised that a future update would enable users to pick if they wanted to be a part of the Siri review program without specifying the timeline as to when this update would be rolled out to the users.
Now, with the company has enabled this feature with the latest version of its mobile OS.
When users tap to install iOS 13.2 on their iPhones, they will be given a choice if they want to be a part of the review program. Users can select “Not Now” to opt of this program. However, if users change their minds after choosing to be a part of this program, they can opt out using the Settings. The Cupertino, California based company also specified that all the audio snippets that are recorded as a part of the Siri review program are anonymised by dissociating them with their corresponding Apple IDs.
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