Tag: Apple

Apple plans to revamp its digital assistant Siri later this year by turning it into an artificial intelligence chatbot, international media reported on Wednesday. The project, codenamed Campos, will be integrated into iPhone, iPad, and Mac operating systems, replacing the current Siri interface, according to people familiar with the plan.

The Siri overhaul is part of Apple’s broader strategy to strengthen its position in artificial intelligence following the initial rollout of “Apple Intelligence” in 2024.

Earlier this month, Apple struck a deal with Google to use its Gemini models to power Siri. Campos will run a higher-end version of the custom Google model, comparable to Gemini 3, and known internally as Apple Foundation Models version 11.

The chatbot will support both voice and typing interactions and is expected to be the primary new feature in Apple’s upcoming operating systems, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. 

Apple reportedly plans to reveal the AI version of Siri at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, ahead of a full launch expected in September. The update is separate from the AI-powered personalization features scheduled to arrive in Siri over the next few months. 

The chatbot is designed to offer capabilities that Bloomberg described as “significantly surpassing” the personalization features currently in development.

Separately, Apple is working on an AI-powered wearable pin equipped with multiple cameras, a speaker, microphones, and wireless charging, according to a report by the Information. The device could reach the market as early as 2027.

Apple and Google have announced a multi-year partnership under which Apple’s next generation of artificial intelligence features, including the Siri assistant, will be powered by Google’s Gemini technology.

The firms claimed in a joint statement on Monday that Apple chose Google’s AI because it provided “the most capable foundation” for Apple’s AI initiatives, according to a review process. Since Apple has traditionally depended on internal development for its fundamental technology, this alliance represents a shift in the company’s strategy. 

The deal unites two companies that directly compete in the worldwide smartphone market using Google’s Android operating system and Apple’s iOS. Despite the rivalry, the firms have maintained an existing commercial relationship, with Google paying Apple billions of dollars each year to remain the default search engine on Apple devices.

Financial terms of the Gemini partnership were not disclosed.

The companies said in their statement that “Apple Intelligence will continue to run on Apple devices and Private Cloud Compute, while maintaining Apple’s industry-leading privacy standards”.

Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities described the partnership as “a major validation moment for Google” and said it would serve as “a stepping stone” for Apple as it works on its artificial intelligence roadmap into 2026 and beyond.

Apple reportedly explored other potential partnerships before selecting Google, including OpenAI, Anthropic and Perplexity.

The collaboration follows a period of internal changes at Apple related to artificial intelligence development. The company delayed the release of an upgraded version of Siri last year and announced last month that the head of its artificial intelligence team would step down. Apple has since said the updated Siri assistant is expected later this year.

Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and other companies have continued to release new AI models and features as competition in the sector increases.

According to the joint announcement, Google’s Gemini models will support a more context-aware version of Siri, aimed at handling natural language requests and generating direct responses through Gemini rather than redirecting users to web searches.

Apple unveiled its iPhone 17 lineup on Tuesday, featuring its thinnest smartphone ever, as the tech giant works to prove it can keep pace in the generative AI race.

The Silicon Valley powerhouse held its annual iPhone release event amid mounting pressures: the White House is pushing the company to reduce its dependence on Chinese manufacturing, while investors question whether Apple is truly ready for the AI age.

Adding to these challenges, the company faces headwinds from President Donald Trump’s high tariff policies. Apple shares have dropped more than three percent since the Republican took office in January.

Against this backdrop, Apple is betting on a product that it hopes will spark a super-cycle of iPhone purchases and reverse the trend of customers holding onto their devices longer before upgrading.

“The event shows Apple sidestepping the heart of the AI arms race while positioning itself as a long-term innovator on the AI hardware front, with silicon and device-level integration,” said Emarketer analyst Gadjo Sevilla.

To reinvigorate its brand, Apple introduced the iPhone 17 Air, which CEO Tim Cook called “a total game changer.”

At just 5.6mm thick (less than a quarter inch), the $999 device features Apple’s new A19 Pro processor — its most powerful iPhone chip to date — and promises all-day battery life with up to 40 hours of video playback.

The Air joins Apple’s more standard lineup, including the premium iPhone Pro 17, the company’s most expensive and highest-performing model.

While all new devices incorporate generative AI technology, Apple made no major announcements about expanding its AI capabilities beyond updates to existing features in its “Apple Intelligence” suite.

The company’s AI push has struggled to gain traction since it launched “Apple Intelligence” late last year. Users have been particularly disappointed with improvements to Siri, which remains surprisingly basic despite years of promises.

Apple reportedly plans to integrate AI into online search next year and overhaul Siri, though the company hasn’t confirmed these reports.

The tech giant is also said to be partnering with Google to tap into its search and AI expertise.

“To truly differentiate and smoke the competition, Apple will have to crack AI as a new contextual user-interface” on its devices, Forrester analyst Thomas Husson said in a note.

“Executing such an ambitious AI strategy will take time. It won’t happen at best until next year, if not for the iPhone’s 20th anniversary” in 2027, he added.

– Pivot to Air –

Industry analysts see the iPhone Air as a strategic pivot, with Apple positioning ultra-thin design — rather than larger screens — as its new premium selling point.

The super-slim profile could also pave the way for Apple’s long-rumored foldable iPhone, expected as early as next year. Samsung and China’s Huawei already offer foldable smartphones.

However, engineering such thin devices presents challenges: higher production costs and reduced battery space, though Apple claims 24-hour battery life for the iPhone 17 Air when fully charged.

Despite tariffs that increase production costs, Apple kept iPhone prices unchanged from last year’s equivalent models — a move that may squeeze profit margins.

Cook revealed in July that Trump’s tariffs cost Apple $800 million last quarter, with an estimated $1.1 billion impact expected this quarter.

Apple shares fell 1.40 percent after pricing details were announced, reflecting investor concerns about the company’s ability to maintain its profit margins.

Apple also introduced the AirPods Pro 3, featuring enhanced noise cancellation and real-time translation capabilities, along with the Apple Watch Series 11, which includes 5G connectivity, extended battery life, and heart health monitoring features pending regulatory approval.

Apple will likely introduce its first foldable iPhone as early as 2026, marking the biggest hardware design overhaul for the company’s most popular product, The Information reported on Tuesday.

The California-based company’s plan to release a foldable iPhone could mimic a similar move by Samsung Electronics, which entered the foldable segment in 2019 with a significant hardware design refresh to attract new customers.

The company has approached suppliers in Asia to make components for the device, and the makers have created an internal codename, V68.

This feature is expected to boost iPhone demand, which is facing stiff competition from Honor and Huawei in China and Samsung globally.

Samsung unveiled its latest foldable smartphones in early July, making its priciest flagship model lighter and thinner with new AI functions.

Apple also plans to upgrade the camera on at least one iPhone model, which will let users control the size of the aperture with a mechanical system, potentially allowing users to create a depth-of-field effect.

The report also states that Apple has officially yet to announce a foldable iPhone, so there is no guarantee that it will be released.

Apple is reportedly testing advanced CMOS image sensors (CIS) from Samsung, which could feature in the iPhone 16 later this year. According to The Elec, Apple is conducting a final quality assessment of these sensors, provided by Samsung System LSI, the logic business unit of Samsung.

Traditionally, Apple has relied exclusively on Sony for its CIS needs. However, recent developments suggest a strategic shift away from the Japanese supplier due to concerns about reliability and the desire to integrate new technologies into its camera systems.

This change in direction comes after Apple encountered issues with Sony last year. In response, Apple asked Samsung to develop new image sensors in 2023 when Sony failed to deliver in a timely manner, complicating the launch schedule for the iPhone 15.

If Samsung successfully passes the current quality tests, it will mark the first time the company supplies CIS for an iPhone. The new sensors from Samsung boast a more advanced three-wafer stack design, compared to the two-stack design used in current and previous iPhone models. These three wafers separately house the photodiode, transistors, and analog digital converter logics, which allows for higher pixel density, reduced noise, and smaller pixel sizes.

In a CIS, the photodiode converts light into electrical signals, while four transistors are responsible for transferring, amplifying, reading, and erasing these signals. The separation of these components into three wafers enhances the sensor’s performance.

Additionally, the new technology uses wafer-to-wafer hybrid bonding, which directly attaches the wafers through a copper pad, eliminating the need for signal-transferring bumps. This results in a smaller CIS with faster data transfer speeds.

The iPhone 16 lineup is expected to be announced in the autumn, featuring new camera capabilities, including a dedicated “Capture” button and a 48-megapixel Ultra Wide camera.

The upcoming iOS 18 is anticipated to introduce a new security feature that allows users to lock individual apps, according to several sources familiar with the development.

This feature is set to provide users with the ability to lock native iPhone apps such as Mail, Messages, Notes, Phone, Photos, Safari, and Settings, among others, thereby offering an additional layer of privacy and security.

To unlock a locked app, users will need to authenticate via Face ID, and it is expected that Touch ID or an iPhone’s passcode will also be compatible with this feature.

It remains unconfirmed whether this functionality will extend to third-party apps from the App Store.

Currently, Apple permits certain content to be secured behind Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, such as notes in the Notes app and photos in the “Recently Deleted” and “Hidden” albums within the Photos app.

The upcoming iOS 18 feature will expand this capability, allowing for entire apps to be locked, even when the iPhone itself is unlocked.

iPhone users have previously resorted to using Screen Time or Shortcuts to lock apps, but these methods will become obsolete with the new iOS 18 functionality.

Apple is set to unveil iOS 18 during its WWDC keynote on Monday. The initial iOS 18 beta is expected to be available to Apple Developer Program members immediately following the keynote, with a public release anticipated in September.