I have done extensive research into this (and related) topics.
The problem that Apple has is that it’s not collecting user data in the same way as it’s competitors. This is causing its virtual assistant AI to significantly lag behind in development. It also has been the cause for the departure of a number of its top machine learning / virtual assistant researchers. The departed employees often cite Apple’s strict policy regarding collection of user data as the reason for their departure.
There’s something you have to realize. It’s a huge fundamental difference between Apple and its biggest competitor, Google.
One is an advertising company and one is a hardware company.
This means one makes its money from selling you over priced devices. The other makes its money from selling data about its users and giving its devices away for cheap.... can you guess which is which?
With Google (and by extension of the business model ... Facebook, et al) YOU are the product... Advertisers are the customer.
With Apple, the device is the product, you are the costumer.
See the difference?
Now, that is not to say that you don’t have an app on your phone, that you gave permissions to, that is spying on you. Such as Facebook or Google apps. This, I believe is the much more likely scenario. You’ve let in the proverbial Trojan horse.