iOS 14.5 includes a feature that allows users to select a specific music service to use with Siri, with options including third-party services like Spotify in addition to Apple Music.
Several reports have described this as a feature that allows the user to select a default music streaming service. But Apple explained now tells TechCrunch that the option is a bit more nuanced than a simple default music toggle. There's no real option to select a music service that will be chosen every time; instead, Apple is leveraging Siri's intelligence. Siri will learn users' listening habits and the music selection process will adapt to that over time. For example, if users always ask Siri to select Spotify, Spotify will be the preferred service. Users can manually change this at any time, though. So to be clear, when users ask Siri on iOS 14.5 to play a song in Spotify, it won't be set as the immediate "default."
iOS 14.5: Changes are possible at any time
Apple made this clear because the company doesn't want users to be confused when Siri asks for their preferences again in the future. Siri offers a list of audio apps that users have installed when they make a content request. This selection will influence Siri's behavior in the future. But the smart assistant can ask again in the future, and even if a preferred audio option has been selected, it can be changed by users asking for a different app. For example, if users have selected Spotify but want to switch to Apple Music, they can say, "Hey Siri, play [song] in Apple Music." Apple has been improving the Siri audio request feature throughout the beta. The third beta of iOS 14.5 refines the app selection dialogs. App developers now have the opportunity to participate in the Siri app selection feature by making their apps available as an option. (Photo by Denys Prykhodov / Bigstockphoto)
