News/Apple
Apple considers third-party voice assistant defaults in EU amid Siri struggles
Apple's struggles to elevate Siri to match competing AI assistants have reached a critical juncture, prompting the company to consider allowing European users to choose third-party voice assistants as their default option. This potential concession signals a significant shift for Apple, which has historically maintained tight control over its ecosystem, and reflects growing pressure from both regulatory bodies and the rapidly evolving AI landscape where competitors like Google Gemini and ChatGPT have established clear technological advantages. The big picture: Apple is reportedly planning to let European iPhone users select a default voice assistant other than Siri, according to a Bloomberg...
read May 19, 2025Keyboard manufacturers add dedicated AI Keys amid LLM integration surge
The keyboard has become the latest unlikely battleground in emerging AI technologies, where design shifts reflect broader changes in computing paradigms. As generative AI models become increasingly embedded in our digital experience, even small hardware adjustments signal important shifts in how humans interact with artificial intelligence systems. The big picture: Keyboard manufacturers are introducing dedicated AI keys and shortcut buttons in response to the integration of large language models into operating systems and applications. Microsoft led this trend by adding a dedicated Copilot key to Windows keyboards, marking the first significant keyboard layout change in decades. Apple followed suit with...
read May 19, 2025Foxconn Q1 profit to surge on AI server demand boom
Taiwan's Foxconn is riding the AI server boom to record profits, with first-quarter earnings expected to surge 72% year-over-year to $1.25 billion. As Apple's largest iPhone assembler and a key Nvidia AI server manufacturer, the company's strategic positioning in the AI hardware supply chain is paying dividends despite global trade uncertainties. The contrast between Foxconn's strong financial performance and its declining stock price highlights how geopolitical tensions between the US and China are creating volatility even for companies benefiting from the AI revolution. The big picture: Foxconn is expected to report a 72% profit jump for Q1 2025, reaching T$37.8...
read May 19, 2025Siri, why are you procrastinating? Apple may delay assistant upgrades until after WWDC
Apple's troubled AI voice assistant development is facing further delays, with no plans to showcase improvements at next month's WWDC event. This setback comes amid internal turmoil described by some Apple employees as a "crisis," highlighting the growing gap between Apple's AI capabilities and those of its competitors. The strategic shift toward a new LLM-based Siri architecture demonstrates Apple's acknowledgment that fundamental changes are needed to keep pace in the increasingly competitive AI assistant landscape. The big picture: Apple will not present any Siri voice assistant improvements at WWDC in June, focusing instead on other Apple Intelligence features like the...
read May 19, 2025Apple’s AI tools fail to impress in the race against OpenAI and Google
Apple's push to compete in artificial intelligence has hit a challenging reality check as its suite of Apple Intelligence features fails to match the capabilities and user experience of established AI players. Despite aggressive marketing campaigns and high-profile presentations, the tech giant is now facing scrutiny over the gap between its ambitious AI promises and what it has actually delivered to users. This disconnect highlights the difficulties even the world's most valuable company faces when playing catch-up in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. The big picture: Apple's AI strategy struggles to match the capabilities of competitors like OpenAI's ChatGPT, despite...
read May 15, 2025Apple explores mind-controlled iPhones for greater access for the disabled
Apple's brain-computer interface technology represents a groundbreaking approach to accessibility, potentially transforming how people with severe physical limitations interact with digital devices. By integrating thought-controlled navigation with AI voice synthesis, Apple is pioneering technology that could allow people with conditions like ALS to not only operate devices hands-free but also communicate through synthetic versions of their own voices—effectively bridging the gap between intention and expression for those physically unable to interact with technology through conventional means. The big picture: Apple plans to support Switch Control for brain-computer interfaces, allowing people with conditions like ALS to control iPhones, iPads, and Vision...
read May 14, 2025Spoiler alert: AI-driven analysis reveals shift in Apple TV’s “Murderbot” narrative voice
Apple TV+'s adaptation of Martha Wells' beloved Murderbot series attempts to capture the wry humor and complex AI themes of the source material, but struggles with tone and characterization. The translation from page to screen reveals the challenges of adapting a character whose most compelling attributes—sardonic internal monologue and social awkwardness—are difficult to portray visually, especially when the books themselves resist conventional sci-fi hero narratives. The adaptation challenge: Apple TV+'s Murderbot series starring Alexander Skarsgård debuts with mixed results, struggling to translate what made the book series so beloved. The show attempts to portray a security robot (SecUnit) who hacked...
read May 13, 2025Apple Intelligence boosts iPhone battery life in iOS 19 update
Apple is developing an AI-powered battery optimization system for iOS 19 that promises to intelligently extend iPhone battery life through personalized usage analysis. This advancement builds upon existing battery management features but takes a significant leap forward by leveraging machine learning to make real-time power adjustments based on individual usage patterns. The technology appears strategically timed to support the rumored ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, where battery capacity may be constrained by design limitations. The big picture: Apple will unveil an AI-powered battery management tool in iOS 19 that analyzes individual device usage to conserve energy and extend battery life. The...
read May 12, 2025Apple explores AI model for potential smart glasses
Apple's new FastVLM visual language model represents a significant breakthrough in on-device AI for wearable technology, potentially powering future Apple smart glasses. This lightweight, high-speed model processes high-resolution images with minimal computing resources, suggesting Apple is developing the foundational AI technology needed for its rumored 2027 smart eyewear that would compete with Meta's Ray-Bans. The big picture: Apple's Machine Learning Research team has developed FastVLM, a visual language model designed specifically for Apple Silicon that processes high-resolution images with unprecedented efficiency. The model is built on Apple's open ML framework MLX, released in 2023, which enables local AI processing on...
read May 12, 2025Trump claims Apple CEO backs China tariff reduction
The U.S.-China tariff suspension announced by President Trump has sparked a rally in Apple shares as the tech giant navigates complex trade relationships while expanding U.S. operations. This development comes amid ongoing pressure from the Trump administration for Apple to relocate more manufacturing to American soil, highlighting the delicate balance tech companies must maintain between global supply chains and domestic production demands. The big picture: Apple stock jumped 6% following the announcement of a 90-day suspension of most U.S.-China tariffs, outpacing the broader tech market's 3% gain. President Trump claimed in an Oval Office statement that he spoke with Apple...
read May 8, 2025How to claim your payout as Apple settles $95M Siri lawsuit
Apple's decision to settle a $95 million lawsuit over Siri's unauthorized voice recordings marks a significant development in the growing tension between voice assistant technology and privacy rights. The settlement offers compensation to millions of Apple users whose private conversations may have been inadvertently captured by Siri between 2014 and 2024, highlighting how even accidental data collection can trigger substantial legal consequences for tech companies. The big picture: Apple has agreed to pay $95 million to settle claims that Siri recorded private conversations without user consent, potentially affecting millions of customers who owned Siri-enabled devices over a ten-year period. The...
read May 8, 2025Is voice-driven ambient AI our future, as Zuckerberg predicts?
The convergence of voice computing and AI represents a potential paradigm shift in personal computing, with both Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Apple SVP Eddy Cue pointing toward a future where typing may no longer dominate our digital interactions. This alignment between two tech giants that often clash suggests a shared vision of how AI could fundamentally transform how humans interact with technology in the coming decade. The big picture: Mark Zuckerberg highlighted at LlamaCon that voice interaction is currently "under-indexed," with 95% of digital interaction being text-based despite voice likely playing a much larger role in the future. Why...
read May 7, 2025AI could make iPhones obsolete by 2035, Apple exec suggests
Apple executive Eddy Cue's prediction about iPhones potentially becoming obsolete by 2035 highlights how AI advancements might fundamentally reshape our device ecosystem. While testifying in Google's antitrust case, Cue made this striking claim about Apple's flagship product, suggesting that significant technological disruption could dramatically alter the consumer technology landscape over the next decade. The big picture: Apple's Senior Vice President of Services, Eddy Cue, speculated during court testimony that artificial intelligence could make iPhones unnecessary within a decade. "You may not need an iPhone 10 years from now as crazy as it sounds," Cue stated during the Google antitrust trial...
read May 7, 2025Apple expands Safari AI search options amid Google decline
Apple's strategic AI pivot in Safari marks a significant shift in how the tech giant approaches search functionality across its ecosystem. The company's plan to integrate AI search providers like Perplexity and Anthropic into Safari on iPhones, iPads, and Macs comes at a pivotal moment when traditional search behavior is changing and regulatory pressure threatens Apple's lucrative Google partnership. This development signals Apple's recognition that AI-powered search alternatives are becoming increasingly important to users while also representing a potential hedge against regulatory and market disruptions. The big picture: Apple SVP Eddy Cue revealed in court testimony that the company will...
read May 5, 2025Mac’s constant changes frustrate longtime users
The latest macOS update has unleashed a cascade of frustrating bugs and performance issues for premium Apple users. This forum post highlights how even high-end Mac users paying premium prices are experiencing fundamental system problems after updating to macOS 15.4.1, raising questions about quality control and the value proposition of Apple's ecosystem compared to Windows alternatives. The big picture: A macOS 15.4.1 update has triggered multiple critical issues including significant unexplained storage loss, persistent AI file downloads despite blocking attempts, and CPU-intensive background processes. Key details: The update arrived after the user was already experiencing a network share timeout bug...
read May 5, 2025ANEMLL launches new open-source AI machine learning library
ANEMLL represents a significant open-source initiative to make Large Language Models (LLMs) run efficiently on Apple devices by leveraging the Apple Neural Engine (ANE). This project addresses the growing demand for on-device AI that can operate without cloud connections, providing privacy benefits while enabling AI capabilities on edge devices like iPhones and Macs. The big picture: ANEMLL provides a complete open-source pipeline for converting and running LLMs on Apple's specialized AI hardware, enabling private, secure, and efficient on-device inference. The project aims to democratize access to on-device AI by simplifying the process of porting Hugging Face models to Apple's Neural...
read May 3, 2025Apple explores Anthropic partnership to bring Claude AI to Xcode
Apple is strategically bolstering its AI capabilities by exploring a partnership with Anthropic to integrate Claude into Xcode, its development environment. This potential collaboration signals Apple's pragmatic approach to AI adoption—combining internally developed tools like Apple Intelligence with established third-party solutions. The partnership leverages Anthropic's enterprise-focused Claude technology, backed by Amazon's substantial $8 billion investment, potentially accelerating Apple's AI development timeline. The big picture: Apple is reportedly working with Anthropic to integrate Claude AI into Xcode, though the company hasn't decided whether this tool will remain internal or become publicly available. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple plans to initially...
read May 2, 2025Tech giants face legal challenges as xAI seeks $20B funding
The technology sector faces intensifying legal and regulatory pressures as Apple and Google battle landmark antitrust cases while Elon Musk and OpenAI navigate significant operational challenges. These developments signal a pivotal moment for tech giants as courts, regulators, and users increasingly demand accountability, potentially reshaping how technology companies operate and compete in an AI-dominated landscape. The big picture: A federal judge has found Apple in contempt for violating a 2021 injunction in its Epic Games antitrust case, taking the extraordinary step of referring the company to the U.S. Attorney for potential criminal contempt proceedings. Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers determined that...
read May 2, 2025Markets brace for jobs report impact as tech earnings disappoint
Wall Street investors are digesting mixed earnings from tech giants Apple and Amazon while bracing for a crucial jobs report that could provide insight into the health of the U.S. economy. Apple's Services division revenue missed expectations, with the company warning of $900 million in additional costs from tariffs, while Amazon issued cautious guidance citing "tariffs and trade policies" as concerns. These developments come as markets extended their winning streak, with the S&P 500 and Dow posting eight consecutive days of gains while the Nasdaq recovered all losses since President Trump's April tariff announcement. The big picture: Stock futures showed...
read May 2, 2025Despite Siri AI setback, Apple sees growth in services, iPad, and other AI features
Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly addressed one of the company's most significant recent challenges: the delay of its enhanced Siri features originally promised as part of the Apple Intelligence rollout. Despite this setback, Apple reported modest revenue growth, with iPhone sales up 2% year-over-year and overall sales increasing 5%, bolstered by strong performance in services and iPad categories. The acknowledgment of AI development challenges from one of tech's most powerful companies highlights the complexity of implementing advanced AI features even for organizations with vast resources. The big picture: Apple has postponed its promised Siri 2.0 upgrade to iOS 19,...
read Apr 28, 2025AI-driven FOMO stalls purchase decisions for smartphone consumers
The current debate over smartphone AI features represents the growing divide between industry hype and practical user value, particularly for consumers outside tech-intensive work environments. As manufacturers integrate more AI capabilities into devices like the upcoming iPhone 16, many users are questioning whether these features justify upgrading, especially when their current devices meet their core communication needs adequately. The big picture: AI features in smartphones remain at an early stage where their utility varies dramatically based on individual lifestyle and professional needs. A MacRumors forum user with a functioning iPhone 12 is weighing whether to upgrade primarily for AI capabilities,...
read Apr 25, 2025Perplexity launches AI voice assistant to rival Siri on iOS
Perplexity's new Voice Assistant feature brings powerful AI capabilities to iOS users, offering a compelling alternative to Apple's delayed Siri enhancements. This update significantly expands accessibility to conversational AI on Apple devices, notably including older iPhones and iPads that won't support Apple Intelligence, while providing sophisticated integration with various apps and services. The big picture: Perplexity has updated its iOS app with a new Voice Assistant feature that allows users to interact with AI through voice commands even when navigating away from the app. The assistant can perform complex tasks across multiple apps, including drafting emails, controlling smart home devices,...
read Apr 24, 2025Humane’s AI Pin revival bypasses HP’s printer expertise
Former Apple executives' failed Humane Ai Pin has found new life through an open-source project called OpenPin, after HP acquired the intellectual property and deactivated the service that powered the device. This unexpected development transforms what had become expensive paperweights into potentially more capable devices, now that development restrictions have been removed and the community can expand the hardware's functionality beyond its original limitations. The big picture: Humane's Ai Pin wearable device has been revived through open-source development after the original company shut down its backend services. The project, available at openpin.org, allows owners of the bricked devices to restore...
read Apr 24, 2025Turf war? Perplexity challenges Siri with advanced AI chatbot…for iPhones
Perplexity AI has launched a new voice assistant feature for iOS that competes with Siri's functionality, despite Apple's system-level limitations. This development represents a significant step toward creating alternative voice assistants on the iPhone, potentially delivering on CEO Aravind Srinivas' recent promise to create "a version of Siri that works reliably on basic stuff" – demonstrating how quickly AI companies can now implement features that traditionally required deep system integration. The competitive landscape: Despite Siri's privileged position as Apple's native voice assistant, Perplexity has managed to implement similar functionality within the constraints of iOS. Siri maintains exclusive access to system-level...
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