Now your iPhone or other Apple device can help you determine if you have symptoms associated with the coronavirus. You can simply ask Siri about symptoms of the coronavirus – "Siri, what are the symptoms of the coronavirus?" The assistant will ask you whether you certain symptoms such as fever, dry cough or trouble breathing and if you have been in contact with someone who might have contracted the virus. Even if Siri assesses that you are at lower risk, the assistant will offer some advice on hand washing and social distancing. Answers come from the U.S. Public Health Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Now available, Apple's smart speaker has integrated Siri support, so wake it up and ask a question or give a command. You probably know about Siri's funny responses to questions like "What's the meaning of life?" or "Are you alive?" And you may have complained when the assistant stumbles or can't follow your question. Spoiler alert: This column won't show you how to make Siri fault-proof. But it will help you get more out of it, particularly when you're in situations where you couldn't or shouldn't be using your hands.

Voice assistants are becoming commonplace with many companies investing in them and both Android and iOS devices coming with at least one pre-installed. They are also slowly taking over the household, with presence in other hardware in addition to the smartphone, such as the HomePod -- Apple's smart speaker. According to research firm Verto Analytics, a total of 72 million or 43.8 percent smartphone users use voice assistants and AI-based apps as of May. Among major smartphone companies, Apple was the first mover in the voice assistant segment with its Siri. Samsung and Google did try to match up with S-Voice and Google Now, respectively, but these voice assistants lacked the conversational capabilities that Siri possessed.