My daughter Katarina turned 10 last Sunday, and for her birthday she got an iPhone (it was about cost for use, not what I wanted her to have but the logical arguments made me agree, so please hold off on any judgment). Siri has become something she plays with, Facetime too.
I must admit Facetime almost had me sold on the iPhone yesterday when I grabbed the phone from her to coordinate plans with her friends Mother, much easier than picking up the phone, like being there to talk to her. That was cool.
This morning I came downstairs to find her yelling at Siri “Winx Club the MOVIE” over and over. I tried to explain Siri won’t understand what you are saying, that’s not the purpose. I could not complete a sentence without her frustrated shrieks at me. I was about to take the phone away when I realized how to explain it.
She was under the impression Siri had AI, it was remembering what she was doing on her phone and could then reference that information, as though it was learning from her use. I explained that no, Siri was more like a talking map, I suggested she ask Siri where the nearest ice cream parlor was. She did, and was very happy with the results.
She now understands it isn’t an intelligent being, or a program that is learning, but a talking map or directory to help her locate information readily available via 411 or google.
The morning has been much more peaceful after that… But what will she expect it to do next?