I rather think this is written to be provocative rather than creating a discussion. The writer speaks as if these things have been around since the beginning of time, but in fact we're only a few years down the line.

It's too early to tell what will happen, or what is possible on a smart "device" of any kind. I can see myself using Siri with Xcode on the iPhone in the not too distant future, if you permit me to let my mind wander. Then it would be useful, in the writer's context.