Apple Expanding Boston-Based Research Team Working on Siri Speech Recognition

siri_ios_7_iconLast year, we highlighted a profile of Apple's Boston-area speech technology team speculated to be working on enhancements to Siri. The group's efforts appear to have been ramping up since that time, with a June report claiming Apple is seeking to eventually move away from the Nuance-powered system currently used for Siri.

Apple's team in Cambridge appears to still be growing, with BetaBoston reporting Apple has leased 13,000 square feet of new space to house the team.

Several commercial realtors tell me that the Cupertino company has leased more than half a floor at One Broadway, an MIT-owned building that also houses Facebook’s small local team, several venture capital firms, and the Cambridge Innovation Center. The new office, about 13,000 square feet on one of the building’s upper floors, is a major expansion for Apple, which currently has a small team on the building’s fifth floor.

Earlier reports had noted Apple's recruitment of several former Nuance employees for the team, and BetaBoston reports Apple has recently added members from Amazon, research and development firm BBN Technologies, and data management firm Actifio.

Apple has reportedly not yet begin building out its new space in Cambridge, but it could house up to 65 employees once completed.

Popular Stories

imac video apple feature

Apple Unveils First New Products of 2026

Monday January 26, 2026 1:55 pm PST by
Apple today introduced its first two physical products of 2026: a second-generation AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided Solo Loop for the Apple Watch. Read our coverage of each announcement to learn more:Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More Apple Introduces New Black Unity Apple Watch BandBoth the new AirTag and the Black Unity Connection Braided...
Second Generation AirTag Feature

Apple Unveils New AirTag With Longer Range, Louder Speaker, and More

Monday January 26, 2026 6:07 am PST by
Apple today introduced the second-generation AirTag, with key features including longer range for tracking items and a louder speaker. For those who are not familiar, the AirTag is a small accessory that you can attach to your backpack, keys, or other items. Then, you can track the location of those items in the Find My app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, and iCloud.com. The new...
iPhone 5s

iPhone 5s Gets New Software Update 13 Years After Launch

Monday January 26, 2026 3:56 pm PST by
Alongside iOS 26.2.1, Apple today released an updated version of iOS 12 for devices that are still running that operating system update, eight years after the software was first released. iOS 12.5.8 is available for the iPhone 5s and the iPhone 6, meaning Apple is continuing to support these devices for 13 and 12 years after launch, respectively. The iPhone 5s came out in September 2013,...
Apple Logo Spotlight

Apple to Launch These 20+ Products This Year

Sunday January 25, 2026 6:02 pm PST by
2026 promises to be yet another busy year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements over the coming months. Beyond the usual updates to iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches, Apple is expected to release its all-new smart home hub, which was reportedly delayed until the more personalized version of Siri is ready. Other unique products rumored for ...
M5 MacBook Pro

Apple Reportedly Aiming to Upgrade the MacBook Pro Twice This Year

Sunday January 25, 2026 11:46 am PST by
Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, Mac Studio, and Studio Display models in the first half of this year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman added that redesigned MacBook Pro models with an OLED touch screen "should be hitting toward the end of 2026," meaning that the MacBook Pro line would be upgraded twice this year. First up...

Top Rated Comments

JonneyGee Avatar
149 months ago
Here's hoping it won't mean Siri talks like someone from Boston…
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Morgan Freeman Avatar
149 months ago
Siri needs a lot of improvements.... in every way
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ChrisCW11 Avatar
149 months ago
Really, nobody sees the irony in all this.

I wouldn't get anybody in Boston to work on speech recognition technology. That is probably why Siri can't understand what the rest of us are talking about.

"Siri, where can I find the best chowder?"

Siri: I'm sorry, but I cannot understand what you are saying.

"Where can I find really good chowder nearby?"

Siri: I'm sorry, I am still having trouble understanding you.

"WAH IS SOME WICKED CHOWDAH?"

Siri: Drive 2 blocks east and turn left, your destination will be on the right.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Teste Avatar
149 months ago
Too bad Siri is still an useless gimmick perpetually stuck in beta. I mean, having to access the internet to set a reminder on my phone? WTF?
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DarkCole Avatar
149 months ago
Am I the only one that doesn't have an issue with Siri? Sure it's not perfect all the time, but normally it's accurate for me. I use Siri regularly, and it's been a benefit to my productivity.

Of course the more work being done to Siri the better!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cesjr Avatar
149 months ago
Even the most hardcore Apple fan must admit Siri's "voice" sounds like garbage compared to Google Now and Microsoft's Cortana. Hoping for improvements all around.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)