Siri jumps in to answer question at White House briefing

President Barack Obama speaks during an event at the White House. Photo / AP

A very long question about the intricacies of President Barack Obama's Iran policy proved too much for Siri during a White House press briefing yesterday.

The iPhone's personal assistant leapt in as the journalist, having waxed lyrical about a filibuster, asked if the President was disappointed at not getting the backing of a single Republican for the Iran nuclear agreement.

"Sorry. I'm not sure what you want me to change," Siri chipped in.

Whether Siri was speaking on behalf of the White House was unclear, although the answer probably reflected reasonably accurately the Obama Administration's view.

The president's press secretary, Josh Earnest, probably grateful for a bit of outside help, laughed off the surprise intervention.

It at least made a change from the exotic ring tones which have occasionally punctuated White House briefings and have have even included a theme from Harry Potter.

Siri is an Apple app designed to recognise users' voice.

Apple says on its website: "Siri lets you use your voice to send messages, schedule meetings, place phone calls and more. Ask Siri to do things just by talking the way you talk. Siri understands what you say, knows what you mean and even talks back. Siri is so easy to use and does so much, you'll keep finding more and more ways to use it."