It will no longer keep audio recordings of Siri users by default, though it will retain automatically generated transcripts of the requests. Users will be able to opt in to sharing their recordings with Apple. "We hope that many people will choose to help Siri get better," the company said. Only Apple employees will be allowed to listen to those audio samples. The company had previously outsourced the work to contracting firms.

Apple has apologised for allowing contractors to listen to voice recordings of Siri users in order to grade them. The company made the announcement after it completed a review of the grading programme, which had been triggered by a Guardian report revealing its existence. According to multiple former graders, accidental activations were regularly sent for review, having recorded confidential information, illegal acts, and even Siri users having sex. "As a result of our review, we realise we have not been fully living up to our high ideals, and for that we apologise," Apple said in an unsigned statement posted to its website. "As we previously announced, we halted the Siri grading program. We plan to resume later this fall when software updates are released to our users."