Apple postpones major AI Siri overhaul because of testing problems
Apple has faced setbacks in the major redesign of its AI-powered Siri assistant due to internal testing difficulties, leading to delays in the release of the new features. The company plans to introduce the redesign gradually through updates like iOS 26.4, iOS 26.5, and iOS 27 throughout the year. The updated Siri is expected to be powered by Google’s Gemini models and function as an AI chatbot.
In a controversial move, Russia has blocked WhatsApp, the popular messaging app, and is promoting its own state-controlled alternative called MAX. This decision forces over 100 million users to resort to VPNs to access secure communication services, aligning with the country’s effort to establish its own communication infrastructure by enforcing local regulations on foreign tech companies.
The surge in memory prices has driven corporate buyers to expedite their PC purchases, leading to increased revenue for PC manufacturers like Lenovo. This trend, exacerbated by the challenges posed by AI implementation, is expected to impact PC and smartphone sales later in the year. Despite lower shipment volumes, the overall PC market revenue is predicted to grow due to higher pricing and a shift towards premium AI-enabled PCs. Resellers anticipate a boost in early-year hardware sales as buyers expedite purchases to evade rising costs.
Anthropic has expanded the free tier of its Claude chatbot, offering previously paid features to users at no cost, directly challenging OpenAI’s plan to introduce ads to its free ChatGPT service. The upgrades include enhanced functionalities such as file creation/editing, third-party integrations, and custom task teaching. Anthropic emphasizes that Claude will remain ad-free, a stance that was highlighted in a recent Super Bowl ad mocking OpenAI’s advertising model.
Ahead of the 2026 elections, Anthropic has pledged $20 million to support pro-AI regulation candidates through the Public First Action PAC. The company’s initiative aims to advocate for policy safeguards in the AI sector, although critics view it as a regulatory capture strategy. This move follows the U.S. president’s executive order to establish a national AI regulatory framework.
Elon Musk has announced a reorganization at SpaceX’s xAI artificial intelligence venture following the company’s merger with SpaceX. The restructuring involves personnel changes to enhance execution speed and increase hiring efforts. This adjustment comes in the wake of SpaceX’s acquisition of xAI in an all-stock transaction valued at $1.25 trillion, as the company prepares for an upcoming IPO amidst regulatory scrutiny.
ByteDance has launched a new video-generating AI model that has gained popularity in China for its ability to create cinematic narratives from simple prompts, attracting attention from notable figures like Elon Musk. This development signals a growing interest in video and picture generation models as the next frontier in AI technology, following the success of text-based models like ChatGPT and DeepSeek’s R1.
NVIDIA has introduced a native GeForce Now app for select Amazon Fire TV devices, simplifying the cloud gaming experience for users who own compatible Fire TV hardware and a controller. The app eliminates the need for sideloading and offers streaming quality capped at 1080p resolution at 60 fps, providing a convenient gaming option for Fire TV users.