Feature Request: Apple Should Merge Spotlight and Type With Siri on iOS and macOS

Apple has been putting a lot of focus on Siri in iOS 18 and macOS 15, as the virtual assistant now integrates with ChatGPT and will soon work with Apple Intelligence. One of the changes made is that it’s now easier to interact with Siri simply by typing, which I think should be merged with Spotlight.

Siri and Spotlight Should Be Merged Into One

Being able to interact with Siri by typing instead of speaking is nothing new. However, in iOS 18 and macOS 15, Siri has a new interface that makes typing text suggestions much more intuitive.

On iPhone and iPad, you can simply double-tap the Home indicator at the bottom of the screen to open the virtual keyboard. On the Mac, Type to Siri is now the default mode for using the assistant, and a microphone button is available for those who want to speak.

Siri can be used for a variety of things, from asking the temperature, starting a timer, searching the web, or even finding a specific photo. Early next year, with a future software update, Siri will gain the ability to control apps and will even have more knowledge of your personal data to better assist you. In a way, these are the same features that Spotlight already provides.

Top comment from Jurk Awf

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In theory, yes. It would only work if Siri didn't intercept the request and take the metaphorical plane to metaphorical ground, as Siri loves to do. Asking Spotlight to open Safari and then having Siri give you safari directions in 5 states away is no fun.

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Even the new Siri and Spotlight interfaces are somewhat similar, especially on the Mac – both are presented to the user as a floating panel on the screen. In fact, I can easily imagine that Siri’s current suggestions interface, which appears as you type, will also be used to show Spotlight results.

Then again, Siri is expected to get deep integration with apps next year, making it much more efficient for searching.

Having similar interfaces to do essentially the same things feels pretty redundant, as if Windows had two control panels for years. Of course, Apple just introduced the new Siri, and there’s a lot more to come, so maybe that’s why the company will choose to wait before merging Siri and Spotlight.

What about you? Would you like to see Apple combine Siri and Spotlight into a single interface? Let me know in the comments section below.