Siri is a virtual assistant that is part of Apple Inc.’s iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, macOS, and tvOS operating systems. The assistant can take your queries and answer questions, make recommendations, and perform actions.
Users can now ask Siri questions like "How do I know if I have coronavirus?" or "Do I have coronavirus?" and it will offer advice based on their symptoms. Apple rolled out the functionality over the past weekend. When you first ask Siri about the virus, the voice assistant immediately wants to know whether you are experiencing related symptoms. This includes a fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath, among others.
If users have other underlying health issues they are immediately advised to call the emergency services. If the user isn’t sure of any additional illnesses, they are informed of the disease’s symptoms and told to self-isolate if they appear. If Siri assesses that you are at lower risk, the assistant will offer some advice on hand washing and social distancing. Siri's answers come from the U.S Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Other tech giants like Google have also been making medical information available. Google launched a website with resources and tips. Microsoft has launched an interactive map and also worked with the CDC to produce a “self-checker” chatbot. Facebook has also been putting the latest news and updates about the pandemic at the top of the social network's news feeds.