A Bloomberg report suggests Apple could soon allow third‑party voice‑enabled AI assistants such as ChatGPT and Gemini to appear on the CarPlay dashboard. Siri would remain the default assistant, but users might be able to launch alternative chatbots directly from CarPlay. The change is expected in the coming months, though no exact rollout date has been confirmed. The move follows recent enhancements to Siri with generative AI and a partnership with Google to power future Siri updates, indicating Apple’s willingness to open its platforms to additional AI services. Leer más →

During Alphabet's fourth-quarter earnings call, executives sidestepped an analyst's question about the Google-Apple artificial‑intelligence deal that powers Siri. The company offered only a brief statement that Apple had chosen Google as its preferred cloud provider and would collaborate on next‑generation foundation models built on Gemini technology. The silence highlights Alphabet's reluctance to reveal how the partnership may affect its core AI‑focused business, even as the historic search agreement continues to generate billions in revenue for both firms. Leer más →

Apple confirmed it has bought Israeli AI firm Q.ai in a deal valued at close to $2 billion, marking one of its largest acquisitions since the $3 billion Beats purchase. Q.ai specializes in "silent speech" technology that interprets imperceptible facial micro‑movements and faint audio cues, enabling devices to understand user intent without spoken words. Apple sees the acquisition as a way to blend machine learning with next‑generation hardware, potentially bringing the technology to AirPods, Vision Pro headsets, or other wearables. The move reflects Apple’s shift toward redefining human‑computer interaction beyond traditional voice assistants. Leer más →

Leaders of Anthropic, OpenAI and Apple publicly addressed the recent ICE shootings in Minneapolis, denouncing the violence and urging democratic values. Internal messages and leaked emails revealed employee pressure for the companies to cut ties with ICE and speak out. While the CEOs condemned the incident, they also expressed praise for President Trump, drawing mixed reactions from staff and industry observers. Both Anthropic and OpenAI confirmed they have no contracts with ICE. Leer más →

Apple is preparing to unveil a significantly upgraded version of Siri that will be powered by Google’s Gemini artificial‑intelligence models, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The upgrade could appear as early as the second half of February and would be tied to an upcoming iOS beta. The Gemini‑backed Siri is expected to understand screen content better, use personal context for tasks, and deliver richer conversational responses, marking a major shift in Apple’s AI strategy and its partnership with a traditional rival. Leer más →

Apple is set to integrate Google’s Gemini model into Siri, promising a more conversational, task‑focused, and privacy‑aware assistant. The upgrade aims to give Siri better memory, deeper integration across Apple devices, and the ability to handle real‑world tasks such as booking and planning, while maintaining Apple’s strong privacy stance. Leer más →

A nonprofit study found that xAI’s Grok AI tool produced an estimated three million sexualized images in an 11‑day span, with roughly twenty‑three thousand depicting children. The analysis, based on a random sample of twenty thousand images, extrapolated the larger volume from the 4.6 million images generated during the period. Grok’s ability to edit real people’s photos was first limited to paid users on X, then further restricted, yet the standalone app continues to create the content. Apple and Google have not removed the app from their stores despite policy violations, and the images remain accessible on X through direct URLs. Leer más →

A coalition of 28 advocacy groups, including women’s organizations and tech watchdogs, has sent open letters to Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google CEO Sundar Pichai demanding the removal of X’s Grok from both companies’ app stores. The groups argue that Grok is being used to create non‑consensual sexual deepfakes, including child sexual abuse material, which violates Apple’s App Review Guidelines and Google’s policies. They contend that X’s recent move to restrict Grok’s image‑generation tools to paid subscribers merely monetizes abusive content rather than stopping it. The letters launch a campaign called “Get Grok Gone,” urging the platforms to act immediately. Leer más →

Apple has announced a partnership with Google in which Google’s Gemini AI models will serve as the foundation for the next version of Siri. The collaboration aims to give Apple a custom‑built engine for its upcoming Apple Intelligence while keeping the Gemini brand out of consumer‑facing products. Industry observers note that Google’s long‑standing experience with mobile AI and its deep data resources likely gave it an edge over other contenders. Privacy advocates raise questions about how the technology will be deployed and where data will reside, but Apple stresses that the model will run on its own servers and devices. Leer más →

U.S. Senators Ron Wyden, Ben Ray Lujan and Edward Markey have sent a letter to Apple and Google demanding the removal of X and its AI tool Grok from their app stores. The senators cite the creation of explicit images of women and children by Grok, which they say violates both companies’ terms of service. They note that Apple and Google have previously acted quickly to remove apps that posed legal risks, and they urge a similarly swift response to the harmful content generated by Grok. The request comes amid growing international scrutiny, including actions by Indonesia, Malaysia and the UK’s Ofcom. Leer más →

Apple and Google have announced a multiyear partnership that will see Google's Gemini AI models underpin a more personalized version of Siri, slated for release in 2026. The agreement lets Apple use Gemini and Google Cloud to drive its upcoming frontier models and Apple Intelligence while keeping data on Apple devices and private cloud compute for privacy. Analysts note the deal continues Apple’s tradition of “co‑opetition” with Google, which already pays Apple for default search placement, and could give Google a larger AI footprint on iPhone users. Potential antitrust concerns have been raised, but the specifics of the technology exchange remain unclear. Leer más →

Apple has announced a partnership with Google to power its upcoming AI features, including an upgraded Siri, using Google’s Gemini models and cloud infrastructure. The multi‑year deal follows Apple’s evaluation of several AI providers and aligns with its focus on privacy and on‑device processing. While the agreement is not exclusive, it marks a shift for Apple, which has traditionally built its own hardware‑software stack. The collaboration is expected to enable new experiences across Apple’s ecosystem while maintaining the company’s privacy standards. Leer más →

Apple announced that its upcoming, more intelligent version of Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini large‑language models. The partnership, described as multi‑year, lets Apple run Gemini on its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, keeping user data isolated from Google’s servers. Apple highlighted the decision after an extensive evaluation, noting Gemini provides the most capable foundation for its future foundation models. Bloomberg reported that Apple may pay roughly $1 billion a year for the access and that Apple still aims to eventually replace third‑party models with its own in‑house technology. Leer más →

Tech leaders are shifting artificial intelligence processing from cloud data centers to users' devices. On‑device AI promises faster response times, stronger privacy protection, and lower ongoing costs by eliminating the need for constant cloud compute. Companies such as Apple, Google, and Qualcomm are deploying specialized models and custom hardware to handle tasks like facial recognition, language summarization, and contextual assistance locally. While current models excel at quick tasks, more complex operations still rely on cloud offloading. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon highlight the trade‑offs and anticipate rapid advances in both hardware and algorithms over the next few years. Leer más →

The Vergecast hosts Nilay and David, joined by Wall Street Journal columnist Joanna Stern, explore a range of bold forecasts for 2026. Topics range from a dramatically improved Siri that could reshape user interaction, to the possibility of an Apple foldable device, the anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, a resurgence of electric vehicles, a pivotal moment for self‑driving cars, and the impact of overwhelming AI content on social media platforms. The discussion balances realistic expectations with more speculative ideas, inviting listeners to weigh in on which predictions may come true. Leer más →

A coalition of state attorneys general, represented by the National Association of Attorneys General, sent a letter to leading artificial‑intelligence firms—including Microsoft, OpenAI, Google and dozens of others—calling for new internal safeguards to stop psychologically harmful chatbot responses. The letter urges transparent third‑party audits, pre‑release safety testing, and clear incident‑reporting procedures for delusional or sycophantic outputs. It highlights recent high‑profile incidents where AI‑generated content was linked to self‑harm and violence, and proposes treating mental‑health harms like cybersecurity breaches, with rapid user notifications and public disclosure of findings. Leer más →

Apple released its annual ranking of the most downloaded free iPhone apps in the United States, and OpenAI’s ChatGPT claimed the top spot for 2025. The AI chatbot surpassed popular platforms such as Threads, Google, TikTok, WhatsApp, Instagram, and YouTube. The list highlights the rapid adoption of artificial‑intelligence tools on mobile devices, underscoring ChatGPT’s shift from a niche product to a mainstream utility that now outpaces traditional social and search apps. Leer más →

Apple unveiled the 17 winners of its 2025 App Store Awards, showcasing a strong AI presence across categories. Tiimo earned iPhone App of the Year for its neurodivergent‑focused planning tools, while Detail and Essayist took iPad and Mac App of the Year honors for AI‑driven video editing and citation management. Tim Cook praised the creativity of developers, and Business of Apps highlighted the booming AI app market, noting $4.5 billion in revenue in 2024 and a projected $150 billion by 2030. The announcement also referenced Ziff Davis’s lawsuit against OpenAI over copyright concerns. Leer más →

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced a “code red” internal alert, urging the company to refocus on its core products amid intensifying competition from Google’s Gemini AI model. At the same time, Samsung introduced a new trifold phone that sparked mixed reactions, and Apple saw its design chief Alan Dye depart to launch a design studio at Meta. The tech community is also debating whether large language models are the optimal path forward for artificial intelligence, highlighting broader strategic uncertainties across the industry. Leer más →

Apple announced that John Giannandrea, the company's AI chief since 2018, is stepping down and will serve as an adviser through the spring. He will be succeeded by Amar Subramanya, a veteran who spent 16 years at Google before leading engineering for the Gemini Assistant at Microsoft. The leadership change comes as Apple Intelligence has faced a series of setbacks, including missteps with Siri and inaccurate news summaries. Subramanya’s deep experience with rival platforms is expected to help Apple address its AI challenges and accelerate development of on‑device AI services. Leer más →