Apple's Siri refuses romantic advances, says Federighi
Siri is designed to shut down flirty talk, unlike other AI chatbots.
Apple's new Siri AI is intentionally designed to avoid sycophancy and romantic engagement, according to software chief Craig Federighi. In an interview with Mostly Human, Federighi contrasted Siri with chatbots from OpenAI and Google, which he said are 'focused on engagement' and may encourage users to reveal personal information to build a connection. 'Siri really wants to say, "Listen, that's not what I'm here for,"' Federighi stated. 'Siri's 100 percent not into that.'
The remarks highlight Apple's broader strategy of positioning Siri as a utilitarian assistant rather than a companion. Federighi and marketing chief Greg Joswiak discussed privacy and child safety protections in the same interview. The approach reflects Apple's emphasis on user boundaries and avoiding the kind of emotional dependency seen with other conversational AI. By design, Siri will redirect romantic or flirtatious prompts back to task-oriented help.
- Apple's Siri deliberately avoids sycophantic or romantic interactions, per Craig Federighi.
- Federighi criticized other chatbots for encouraging emotional connections to boost engagement.
- The design aligns with Apple's privacy-centric approach and focus on task completion.
Why It Matters
Apple sets a clear boundary for AI assistants, prioritizing utility over emotional manipulation.