Apple Prepares Ability To Change Siri With Third Party Assistants

Apple will present Siri's replacement feature from Samping Button (photo: dock. unsplash)

JAKARTA Apple is preparing a big feature for iPhone users through the iOS 26.2 update. When the iOS version is launched, users can activate another assistant with the Side button.

Currently, the Side button on the iPhone only triggers Siri if the user presses the button for a long time. Through this update, users can replace Siri with another digital assistant. This capability is only available to users with Apple IDs registered in Japan.

Launching from Gizmochina, this capability can be seen in a series of texts found in iOS 26.2 Beta 3. The instructions are also in Siri's framework. The text found reads, "Select Another Default Side Button Application."

In other texts, it can be seen that writing like 'no longer meets the requirements for use with the Samping Button' or is not available 'on your territory'. This reinforces the allegation that this feature is limited to certain geography.

With this capability, users in Japan can replace Siri with a popular third-party assistant. There are several alternative digital assistants, including Google Gemini, Amazon Alexa, or other approved voice assistant apps.

This new feature relates to a new Law (UU) which will be passed in Japan. The country launched the Mobile Software Competition Act in August which will be effective in December.

In the law, Japan will prohibit platform holders from providing exclusive access to their virtual assistants. There are also allegations that this feature material will be present in the European Union due to the Digital Market Act (DMA).