Apple Maps’ Driving Puzzle.

If you’re like me you are just finding out that Apple Intelligence is the brain and Siri is the voice and hands. Together they are known as Siri AI. Siri is not much of a talker, rather reticent as a matter of truth. And while this blog’s tagline says Truth has no value, surely the reader understands that. And if you don’t… that’s actually sort of what this essay is about.

I have had interesting experiences with Apple Maps. I wonder how many people can say that. Today they decided to rotate clockwise, counter-clockwise several times till it became a bit woozy. Yeah okay Siri I mumbled in my mind (not aloud God forbid) and started driving. At the first traffic light, pulling out of the Andrew Jackson post office, the directions were to make a left. Normally I go straight which is actually a slightly diagonal right across the road and then straight. Since I’ve changed buildings recently (same street though) I decided to make the left.

Seamlessly, without even a chuckle, the map directions went blank and then reappeared leaving me with the distinct impression what Siri AI meant by left was to go straight. Well now that I had taken the left, the map helpfully readjusted. Then my mind started puzzling over the Driving Puzzle. While I was driving. So… it said to me… is that straight the correct direction and you made an error by turning left? Or, did the map deliberately deceive you (your original instinct was correct)? Or ….

You can imagine the rest. There are multiple ways to try and understand the puzzle. In essence it is a puzzle of intent and outcomes. And it’s a bit puzzling because there is a Driver and then there is a Driver’s Toolkit. Is the Driver the residue of multiples? Is the Driver’s Toolkit custom to my Bolt or also a residue of multiples? Can one hack the other? Can the other hack back? Not too shabby.

I am still not very clear about the whole mess. Is the plan to take the straight slightly diagonal right and then straight? The middle path is like a coin landing vertically when tossed.
Or is the plan to deceive and go left? This may mean that the left turn is actually the center. Or it could mean the center is not an option… Siri AI is directing things left, but we simply are under the impression that we are driving. And it is happy to accept and make it appear like it made a mistake. Or that I made a mistake not understanding what it meant. Maybe it means go straight when it says go left.

All of these thoughts, rapidly crossed my mind. I realized in essence there is no way to know unless Siri speaks. And speaks truthfully.

In all fairness to the contestants below, my memory is also sporadic.