eli5: How does siri hear me say “hey siri” if it isn’t constantly listening to my conversations or me speaking?

Question

eli5: How does siri hear me say “hey siri” if it isn’t constantly listening to my conversations or me speaking?

In: 17336

Answer 1

Have you ever been in a meeting or talking to someone and you kinda just zone out. But the moment they say your name you perk up and pay attention? But a lot of time you don’t know what was said up to that point?

That’s kinda what Siri does.

Your phone/Siri is constantly listening. It’s just not recording anything you are saying, it’s just waiting for it’s activation prompt. That’s what people mean by “not listening” it’s present and hears everything you say it’s just not recording or processing it into data.