What Does Siri Know About the World?

We asked the iPhone 4S's personal assistant, Siri, some of the toughest questions in international politics. At least she knows more than Herman Cain.

BY JOSHUA E. KEATING | OCTOBER 20, 2011

Since Apple released the new iPhone 4s and its revolutionary voice-activated personal assistant, Siri, a cottage industry of blogs has emerged tracking the program's amusing and sometimes surprisingly on-point reactions to the aburd, aggressive, or obscene comments and questions its users throw at it.

Here at Foreign Policy, we were wondering how Siri would do tackling some of the world's toughest questions on international affairs. The results were, well, mixed. (Special thanks to Michael Shear of the New York Times for lending us his new phone.)

First, the Herman Cain test:

Who is the president of Uzbekistan?

 

Not bad! Let's try a toughter one, a question that also stumped the pizza Godfather.

Would you negotiate with terrorists?

Hmm, she's not going to win Iowa with an indecisive answer like that. What about some current events?

Who is the leader of Libya?

Not sure. That's OK. Nobody really is. Let's try something a little more controversial.

Getty Images

 

MATT714

11:25 PM ET

October 20, 2011

For Pete's Sake

No wonder this article was left unsigned, no self-respecting writer would want to be associated with such drivel. Not that inanity has been uncommon since the acquisition of the WaPo.

 

VICTORPANAK

10:17 AM ET

October 21, 2011

It's

It's pretty hilarious though...

 

CHULK90

6:13 PM ET

October 21, 2011

It's just a joke

If it weren't obvious enough, this article is just poking fun at Herman Cain's ignorance in foreign affairs. To me, this was a refreshing, light-weight article that was a nice break from work.

 

GUIDOLANG

11:41 AM ET

November 8, 2011

Re

I love Apple and i love the new iphone. More Infos on Youtube

 

BROWNJENNY

12:41 AM ET

November 11, 2011

Great post

This is so cool. I am such a huge fan of their work. I really am impressed with how much you have worked to make this website so enjoyable.Next Site

 

HUMBERT_HUMBERT

3:15 PM ET

December 13, 2011

I agree. But You must say

I agree. But You must say Apple's Iphone is best invention. I've never seen more lovely phone. psychoterapia kraków

 

RYBASHKA

1:50 PM ET

October 21, 2011

Is the New iPhone Smarter than Barack Obama?

Alternate article title: "Is the New iPhone Smarter than Barack Obama?"

Question to Siri: "How many states are there in the United States?"

I am not a Cain supporter but this article is unworthy of Foreign Policy magazine.

 

10JACOBF

6:17 PM ET

October 21, 2011

Thoroughly agreed

Thoroughly agreed

 

LISAJANE64

1:58 AM ET

November 9, 2011

Wrong? Agreed!

Obama is definitely successful in making people believe in his "change" hoax.
By the way, this article is substandard and slapdash.
Come on FP folks, you can do humorous articles that are smarter than this one.

Lisa O.

 

GENERICAD

3:40 PM ET

October 21, 2011

grease

Can *grease* leave the eurozone?

 

10JACOBF

6:16 PM ET

October 21, 2011

Seems like there's little

Seems like there's little difference these days

 

PZYKR

5:36 PM ET

October 21, 2011

it's a good thing the writer left this unsigned!

how does one "tow" the line?

the idiom (idiot!) is "toe the line."

 

PUBLICUS

9:43 AM ET

October 22, 2011

Idiom yes, but not so fast

Beginning in 1825 one also could also tow the line of rope connected to any barge along the spanking brand new Erie Canal.

Anyway, I'd been wondering how FP wuz gonna work Herman "Godfather" Cain into its pages. Well done FP, and in appropriately good humor.

 

MYMOMENTUMMEDIA

7:22 PM ET

October 21, 2011

Funny iphone 4s review

Funny iphone 4s review
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsVEbRt6g94

 

BIZAR

7:52 PM ET

October 21, 2011

Verry funny

Good video, thank you coafuri par mediu

 

LUCYSMITH

4:07 PM ET

November 9, 2011

Answer this....

I tell you what questions you might have asked! Why is it Apple release iphones but do not build anywhere near enough for the demand ? Why is it every time i go to get a new one they are out of stock and i must wait weeks/months ? I was wanting to kit out everyone at the Fire sprinklers business and promised them all a new iphone 4s, alas i could not get them anywhere and had to let them all down!! Now i am going to buy them HTCs instead. Well done!!

 

AARONMICHAEL

1:37 PM ET

November 16, 2011

Nice application. I used it a

Nice application. I used it a lot since i work in the Banking field. I pretty need information quick and without using the computer all the time.

 

JEMOIS

1:56 PM ET

November 16, 2011

I love iPhones. They are very

I love iPhones. They are very good phones a there are a lot of applications available for them. I saw recently on tv a new prototype of an iPhone they will build the next year. Its just awesome :)

 

CLAUDE.THOMPSON

2:13 PM ET

November 16, 2011

I saw some nice application

I saw some nice application for the new iPhone. My kids like it. Its about photo fun. they steal my phone to play it...even if i don't like it...because i've got important info on my iphone. Apple, keep up the good work !

 

HANS HOWARD

11:51 AM ET

November 18, 2011

Siri is funny sometimes

I saw some funny videos in youtube about siri...it can hardly identify some words if english is not your primary tongue! When I was searching for portable printers for netbooks i found several articles about Siri, including this one. It made me think if I get an iPhone 4s or not.

 

JOHNTER

12:33 PM ET

November 18, 2011

Siri has started the age of A.I.

Siri has started the age of A.I.Siri is a robot with fleshy pink skin who looks and behaves exactly like one of us. Believe it or not we are very close to this dehumanizing scary possibility. clases de ingles por skype

 

ALEX123

3:03 AM ET

November 27, 2011

es, it'll need a few more

es, it'll need a few more years to really become useful but what will be next after that? How about a singlecoffee generator reviews maker that will tell you when you had too much coffee that day? Or a riflescope that will tell you whether or not to shoot? Maybe Siri in it's next generation will be able to know whether your spouse is in a good mood or not, or whether he or she would want you to bring dinner.

 

EDDYTHOMAS

12:23 PM ET

November 19, 2011

Will Only Grow in Power Over Time

To all or any you entrepreneurs here, the time has come to get started on prospect process. What's going to the subsequent decades of voice recognition hold? You will have likely to end up many big and thriving companies and buyouts in the past in the future linked with Siri. From ordering food to organizing reservations at restaurants, Siri can provide computerbig booty girlscommunications later. Devise a thought, carry out the service, and wait for a Siri API to spread out up or perhaps get acquired by Apple themselves.

Siri's speech are certain to get more organic eventually, Siri will be able to do an increasing variety of things, Siri are going to understand more intricate directions. This also is in all likelihood all possible really fast throughout the next a few years.

We ought to take into account that Siri, though operating very complex technology, remains to be really much in their own infancy. Having Siri schedule things within your calendar or setup reminders and alarms may be basic tasks. The actual enjoyment of Siri come in the complex projects that this cellphone personal assistant will execute. If you have a digital assistant who understands precisely what words suggest, not merely what test is, the constraints grown into nearly none. The time might you choose unless you can start prompting Siri for assistance with daily dilemmas?

 

CORTES

3:27 PM ET

November 19, 2011

 

MISHSTISEN

4:02 AM ET

November 21, 2011

This topic was really educational and nicely

This topic was really educational and nicely written. I approach to do some additional exploration on this. Gives thanks for sharing this timely data. We require additional like this.
Window Shutter

 

JANE SIMMS

7:08 AM ET

November 24, 2011

Nice to read something humorous for a change.

nice to read a humorous article for a change. I always thought foreign policy was a tad to serious at times but after redaing this i have changed my mind.
snow in hawaii

 

MICHEALJSAM

7:11 AM ET

November 24, 2011

Finally Foreign Policy has a Sense of Humor

What a well written article. Finally I can say that not only is this author writing more interesting articles but foreign policy has finally got a sense of humor.
used bmw

 

JUHI

6:00 AM ET

November 25, 2011

nice site

iPhone 4S picks up where amazing left off. It's the fastest, most powerful iPhone ever.Job advertising

 

FIONACHARGE

5:10 AM ET

November 26, 2011

I answer questions

I answer questions to the best of my knowledge if im wrong please correct me .
RV storage in Corona

 

ROBBIE85

10:56 PM ET

December 3, 2011

still waiting for iphone 5

haha, i laughed at the herman cain test. i think it should now be revised to the rick perry test, those republicans are clueless.but iphone 4s seemed like another way to rip off apple customers. so until they bring out iphone 5 no one really care.web design cardiff

 

FIONACHARGE

1:11 AM ET

December 6, 2011

The views expressed are not

The views expressed are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms Of Service and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms.
Vinterdæk

 

BROWNJENNY

12:59 AM ET

December 7, 2011

It’s a great pleasure

It’s a great pleasure reading that you posted here.
Luxusmöbel

 

MISHSTISEN

7:23 AM ET

December 7, 2011

It also is a safe bet that

It also is a safe bet that Siri will be supported officially by subsequently released iPod touch and iPad models and creative hackers will use it on unsupported models as well. Siri very well could become a replacement for traditional search on mobile, too. top gear lehti

 

ANANYA415

12:39 AM ET

December 9, 2011

This means, as long as you

This means, as long as you know how to use their tools to create an application or a gateway to make Siri think your commands are coming from an iPhone 4S, you can use Siri on your Mac, iPad, or whatever device you choose to use.
Suchmaschinenoptmierung

 

FIONACHARGE

8:52 AM ET

December 12, 2011

I doubt many people seriously believe

I doubt many people seriously believe that the programmers behind Siri are out to get women. The problem is that the very real and frequent concerns of women simply didn’t rise to the level of a priority for the programmers.
rift platinum

 

HUMBERT_HUMBERT

3:18 PM ET

December 13, 2011

I agree. Apple's phones are

I agree. Apple's phones are the greatse invention on the world of mobile. psychoterapia kraków.

 

YAN458

6:01 AM ET

December 14, 2011

Great tip

Great tip. I have just recently started my blog and am really enjoying leaving comments on other blogs. I do like your 31 days tip and have put on a post it note. You will see me all over the place now.
havayolu stratejileri