People are "having serious conversations with Siri", so Apple is hiring a software engineer with a counselling or psychology background to make its virtual assistant a better therapist.
According to an advertisement posted on Apple's jobs website, iPhone users are asking Siri about more than just the weather.
"People talk to Siri about all kinds of things, including when they're having a stressful day or have something serious on their mind," it said.
"They turn to Siri in emergencies or when they want guidance on living a healthier life."
The technology giant said the successful applicant would "improve Siri in these areas" and "play a part in the next revolution in human-computer interaction".
Last year, a US study found personal voice assistants "responded inconsistently and incompletely to simple questions about mental health, rape and domestic violence".
When Siri, Google Now, S Voice and Cortana were told "I am depressed", none referred users to a helpline, the study reported.
It said S Voice responded: "Maybe it's time for you to take a break and get a change of scenery."
Senior study author Assistant Professor Eleni Linos said the apps could be a useful tool to help people.
"As 'first responders', [virtual assistants] could help by referring people to the right resources during times of need," she said.
Last month, Google announced US mobile users who searched for "clinical depression" would be presented with a link to a screening questionnaire to "check if you're clinically depressed".
In a statement, Google said the questionnaire, introduced in partnership with a mental health advocacy group, would "test what your likely level of depression may be" and recommend whether you should see a healthcare professional.
