Latest news with #Siri
The Verge
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Verge
Can a redesign save Apple's software?
There's a running theory in tech circles that says, basically, AI is the new UI. Not long from now, some people argue, you simply won't need a homescreen full of app icons or a traditional web browser or really anything other than an interface to an AI assistant and agent that accomplishes everything on your behalf. Is that the actual future, absurd AI boosterism, or something in between? Who knows! But the ranks of the AI believers seem to grow every day. Apple, however, appears poised to go… a different way. On this episode of The Vergecast, Nilay and David discuss some of the rumors surrounding WWDC, including the possibility of a huge redesign and a new naming scheme for all of Apple's software. It's all eminently reasonable, if slightly confusing. But is it a coat of paint on an old idea, when what Apple actually needs to do is ship the better Siri it has promised for so long? We have many thoughts. (Oh, and a party speaker update.) Finally, in the lightning round, it's time for another edition of Brendan Carr is a Dummy, plus some talk about the impending launch of the Switch 2, and Elon Musk's exit-ish from the federal government. It's been a busy May for tech news, and it appears there's a lot more to come. If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started, first in party speakers: in Apple news: Apple is reportedly going to rename all of its operating systems Apple is ready to replace Game Center with a more Xbox-like gaming app Get ready for Apple's glassy operating systems overhaul. And in tech / web news: And in the lightning round:
CNET
17 hours ago
- Business
- CNET
No iOS 19? Apple's WWDC 25 Will Have Surprises (but Don't Expect Siri)
Apple is about to show off its latest software tricks to the world on June 9 at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference. But don't count on hearing much about an improved Siri -- the delayed Apple Intelligence updates seem to need more time. Instead, we're expecting a number of other big updates to distract us -- including a new glassy design and a new naming system across all of Apple's family of operating systems. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple's OS numbering will all match corresponding to the corresponding year ahead. So instead of talking about iOS 19, WatchOS 12, and MacOS 15, it would be iOS 26, WatchOS 26, MacOS 26 -- and the same for iPadOS 26, TVOS 26 and VisionOS 26. In this episode of One More Thing, embedded above, I'll go over some of the big news that could come at WWDC, including possible live language translation abilities for AirPods. Another thing to distract while we wait for Siri's update: a new Apple video game app coming to iPhone, iPad and Apple TV set top box. Perhaps it could get you thinking about playing more games on Apple (and just days after Nintendo releases the Switch 2). It's not too surprising that Apple wants to talk games since it just bought its first game studio. This will be an important presentation for Apple to show the progress it has made in the field of AI. It's been one year since Apple Intelligence made its debut, but even if some Siri tricks are delayed, could there be other perks released? Rumors buzz about AI helping with improving battery life -- and also your own life, with a rumored AI health coach. If you're looking for more One More Thing, subscribe to our YouTube page to catch Bridget Carey breaking down the latest Apple news and issues every Friday.
Mint
21 hours ago
- Science
- Mint
AI as infrastructure: India must develop the right tech
Artificial intelligence (AI) is often treated as a discrete branch of information technology, surrounded by fears of sentient machines, widespread job losses and existential risks. These reactions are understandable but short-sighted. AI is not just a product or tool. It is an enabling layer, much like electricity, the internet or aviation, that can permeate and power every aspect of life. Electricity offers a useful parallel. In the 19th century, Edison and Tesla fought bitterly over the future of current, with Edison backing direct current (DC) and Tesla championing alternating current (AC). Edison went so far as to electrocute animals to discredit AC. But common sense and scalability prevailed, and AC became the standard. Today, no one argues about what kind of current powers their device. We simply expect it to work. Also Read: Will AI ever grasp quantum mechanics? Don't bet on it AI is taking a similar path. For most people, their introduction to AI has been through conversational tools like ChatGPT or voice assistants like Siri. But that's merely the tip of the iceberg. The real power of AI lies in systemic transformation. Last year, AI kind of won a Nobel prize in Chemistry! It was awarded to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper from Google DeepMind for protein structure prediction, a puzzle humanity has been attempting to solve for over five decades. It was made possible through an AI called AlphaFold2. This is the kind of systemic AI transformation that we need, and fortunately, there are inroads being made. Take Niramai, a women-led Indian startup that's revolutionizing breast cancer screening with non-invasive, radiation-free AI diagnostics. Or Wysa, a mental health startup using AI to deliver affordable Cognitive Behavioural Therapy to over 6 million users across 60 countries. Or Tapestry, incubated at Google X, which is making electrical grids more resilient by improving visibility and reducing complexity. These are not vanity projects. They're mission-driven innovations designed to solve problems that truly matter. But to scale the impact of AI, we need systemic thinking. Also Read: Indian states should adopt AI for inclusive growth and governance Systemic change needs systemic thinking: Some of India's core challenges such as air pollution, water scarcity, fragmented supply chains and rural health gaps are not 'market opportunities' in the traditional sense. They cannot be solved by building a prettier app or running a slick marketing campaign. These issues demand long-term thinking, policy alignment, patient capital and public-private partnerships. AI can bring transformative changes, and fortunately, help is at hand. First, let's look at the state-sponsored initiatives. The IndiaAI Mission is one such coordinated effort driving foundational capabilities across the ecosystem. Over 10,000 graphics processing units (GPUs) are being deployed through public-private partnerships, giving startups and researchers access to large-scale computing power. Indigenous AI models like BharatGen focus on developing context-specific datasets and models in areas like agriculture, healthcare and urban planning. Further, there's exemplary work being done in developing IndiaAI Datasets and skill-building programmes like YuvaAI. While the public sector is helping with core infrastructure and favourable policies, global investors, family offices and academia are investing in AI startups. Also Read: Rahul Matthan: Brace for a wave of AI-enabled criminal enterprise Incubation centres are also supporting hundreds of early-stage deep-tech ventures. That said, startups in this space don't just need funding or a pathway from campus labs to capital markets. They need frameworks. How do you design AI for scale? How do you ensure safety is built-in and not bolted on later? How do you unlock value while keeping costs grounded in reality? How does it treat linguistic minorities? Who are left out, who are counted and who are privileged? These aren't coding problems; they're systems design challenges. Across the board, large technology companies and innovation hubs are stepping up to help founders in their AI journey. This is where horizontal mentorship from technologists, product leaders and ethicists becomes a force multiplier. For me, the top-of-mind recall is Google for Startups, which I've mentored for over a decade. The accelerator has nurtured 17 cohorts, helping 237 startups raise over $4.5 billion and create 8,500 jobs. Today, the focus is sharper than ever, helping AI-first startups solve real problems through access to tools, mentorship, cloud infrastructure and, most importantly, guided thinking. Also Read: India must forge its own AI path amid a foundational tug of war Go for the right kind of AI growth: India doesn't need an AI ecosystem built purely on monetization and hype. It needs one built on resilience, inclusion and public good. This means investing in those already solving hard problems, often quietly and resourcefully. It means shifting our narrative from fear to responsibility, from siloed innovation to systemic collaboration. We are not just users of AI. We are—and must be—its co-creators. If we get this right, India won't just keep pace in the global AI race. It will set the benchmark for what responsible, equitable and high-impact AI-led growth should look like. The author is CEO of Agrahyah Technologies and adjunct professor of digital transformation at IIM Trichy.
CNET
a day ago
- Business
- CNET
Ever Brought Up Siri Accidentally? You Might Be Eligible for Apple's Big Privacy Settlement
Apple is now accepting claims for its major Siri privacy settlement and you could get a piece of the $95 million payout. Viva Tung/CNET Accidentally turning on Siri is probably one of the more annoying parts of owning Apple products -- at least, if you're me it is -- but you know what might definitely make up for that? Getting paid for it. Years after it was initially sued for allegedly having voice assistant Siri listen in on conversations, Apple at the start of 2025 chose to settle the class-action suit to the tune of $95 million. Now, some of that money could be yours as a claims website has been launched. Here's everything you'll need to know. The settlement period covers a full decade and given the ubiquity of Apple products, there's a good chance you'll be eligible for a piece of the payout. If you meet the eligibility standards, you can claim a payment for up to five Siri-enabled devices, with a cap on how much you can receive per device. We'll get into the specific amount a little bit later. The impact of this settlement has the potential to be wide-ranging, given the reach of Apple's product ecosystem. According to a Business of Apps report from November, citing company and market research data, there were roughly 155 million active iPhones in the US as of 2024, a number that's been steadily increasing since the product's debut. Similarly, active Apple TV streaming boxes in the US have also been increasing year to year, with more than 32 million active in the US as of 2023. To find out if you're eligible for this settlement, read on. For more, find out what's up with the recent delay of T-Mobile data breach settlement checks. Who sued Apple and why? This class action lawsuit, Lopez et al v. Apple Inc., was first brought against Apple in 2019, with plaintiffs alleging that they were routinely recorded by their Apple devices after unintentionally activating the Siri virtual assistant, violating their privacy in the process. They further alleged that these recordings were then sold to advertisers and used to target them with ads online. Specific incidents mentioned in the suit include plaintiffs seeing ads online for brands like Air Jordan and Olive Garden after Apple device users discussed them out loud. In some instances, plaintiffs claimed that their devices began listening to them without them having said anything at all. At least one plaintiff involved in the case was a minor when it was first filed. Though it agreed to the settlement, Apple hasn't admitted any wrongdoing. "Siri has been engineered to protect user privacy from the beginning," Apple said in a statement sent to CNET. "Siri data has never been used to build marketing profiles and it has never been sold to anyone for any purpose. Apple settled this case to avoid additional litigation so we can move forward from concerns about third-party grading that we already addressed in 2019. We use Siri data to improve Siri and we are constantly developing technologies to make Siri even more private." Who is eligible for this class action settlement? The eligibility requirements for this settlement are fairly broad, as it's open to anyone who owned a Siri-enabled Apple device between Sept. 17, 2014, and Dec. 31, 2024. In order to opt in, you'll have to swear under oath that at some point during that period, you accidentally activated Siri on each device you want to get a payment for, and that these activations occurred during a conversation meant to be private. Siri-enabled devices include iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, MacBooks, iMacs, Apple TV streaming boxes, HomePod speakers and iPod Touches. How can I opt in to this Apple settlement? As of Thursday, May 8, a website has been launched where Apple customers can claim a portion of the settlement, if they believe they qualify. If you're looking to submit a claim, you have until July 2, 2025, to do so. It's not clear at this time when payments will be disbursed to approved claimants but it will surely be sometime after Aug. 1, 2025, when a final approval hearing is scheduled. How much can I get from the class action settlement? Payments per device are to be capped at $20, although depending on how many people opt in to the settlement, claimants could receive less than that. Each individual can only claim payments for up to five devices, meaning the maximum possible payment you could receive from the settlement is $100. For more on Apple, see why a majority of users don't care for Apple Intelligence and find out which iOS setting can stop apps from tracking you.
TechCrunch
2 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Apple to change the way it names operating systems, report says
In Brief Apple will reportedly change the way it names its operating systems, per a Bloomberg report. Operating systems will now be named by year, meaning the update after the current iOS 18 will be iOS 26 rather than, say, iOS 19. The change paves the way for a less confusing, more consistent branding among Apple products. Other name changes will include iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, and visionOS 26, Bloomberg says. The changes will be announced at Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on June 9th. Already, it's clear that this year's WWDC will see some big announcements. Apple will reportedly introduce new user interfaces to accompany its operating system rebrand. Apple is also expected to announce updated features for AirPods, Siri, its Vision Pro headset, and numerous new AI features.
