Apple is speeding up a global renovation of its retail stores, replacing giant marketing video walls with dedicated Genius Bars and carving out new side bays for online pickups and Today at Apple sessions, according to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman reported that the company plans to accelerate renovations over the coming years while becoming more selective about opening new locations. The shift marks a move away from the more open, community-style layout that defined many stores after the last major redesign cycle.Three changes define the new approach. First, Apple is remaking the Avenue — the side stretches of stores that showcase accessories and services. Dedicated roughly 10-foot bays will handle online order pickups and Today at Apple sessions, replacing the large pickup tables and sprawling seating areas now common on the floor.Second, the large video walls at the back of many stores are slated for removal. Those displays have been used for workshops and marketing. In many renovated locations, they will give way to service counters instead.

Third, dedicated Genius Bars are returning. Apple moved years ago toward a more informal Genius Grove model. The new bars, Gurman reported, echo the older layout but with an all-wood finish, two counter heights for accessibility, storage drawers, and large product posters on the wall behind staff.

Apple has already tested elements of the design in some stores, including internationally, and now intends to roll the look out more broadly and faster than previously planned. Back-of-house areas and employee break rooms are also expected to be upgraded as part of the work.

The changes point to a retail strategy that puts visible technical support and order fulfillment closer to the center of the store experience, while tightening how existing locations are refreshed rather than rapidly adding new ones.

MacDailyNews Take: Genius Bars never should’ve ben removed, so this is a welcome return for longtime Apple Retail Store customers.

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Apple is testing Genius Bar Live Notes, an AI tool that transcribes and summarizes customers' visits. But it makes some staffers nervous.

(via Cult of Mac - Your source for the latest Apple news, rumors, analysis, reviews, how-tos and deals.)

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg News’ Mark Gurman highlights two notable Apple developments: a new AI tool being tested in retail stores and previously undisclosed plans for the now-defunct Mac Pro.

AI Recording and Transcription for Genius Bar Appointments

Apple is piloting an AI-powered system called Live Notes at select retail stores. The tool allows Genius Bar employees to record conversations with customers using an iPad. AI then transcribes and summarizes the discussion, automatically adding it to the employee’s notes and the official repair session record.

Key details of the pilot include:

• Opt-in only — Both the employee and customer must agree before recording begins.

• Goal — Reduce manual note-taking so staff can focus more on customer service and problem-solving rather than typing during appointments.

• Integration — Transcripts feed directly into Apple’s internal Genius Bar system for better documentation and follow-up.

This initiative reflects Apple’s broader push to integrate AI across its ecosystem, including retail operations, to improve efficiency while maintaining a personal touch in customer interactions. Privacy safeguards via the opt-in requirement appear designed to address potential concerns.

Apple Once had Bigger Plans for the Mac Pro

Apple discontinued the Mac Pro earlier in 2026, but new reporting reveals the company once had far more ambitious plans for the high-end desktop. Gurman notes that Apple developed — but ultimately shelved — “M2 Extreme” and “M3 Extreme” chip variants specifically intended for the Mac Pro.

These ultra-powerful chips were part of an effort to deliver even greater performance for professional users who rely on the modular, expandable workstation. The decision not to release them contributed to the product’s eventual discontinuation, as Apple shifted focus amid changing market demands and the rise of more portable high-performance options like Mac Studio and MacBook Pro configurations.

The revelations underscore the evolving nature of Apple’s Mac lineup, where even flagship products like the Mac Pro face tough strategic trade-offs in an AI-driven computing era.

MacDailyNews Take: Not everything makes it to market. Conditions change. As always, retail and pro desktop innovations continue to shape the company’s customer and professional user experiences.

In the end, Mac Pro was a waste of aluminum. – MacDailyNews, March 30, 2026

For the vast majority of professional users (video editors, photographers, 3D artists, developers, and those running AI/ML workloads) the Mac Studio is the superior choice overall. It delivers an excellent balance of performance, price, compact size, and modern features. The Mac Studio covers 90% (or more) of what the Mac Pro once offered, but at a fraction of the cost and with newer silicon, and the promise of regular updates. The discontinued Mac Pro was only preferable, or truly necessary, in the rare cases that demand heavy internal PCIe expansion that cannot be adequately handled externally via Thunderbolt; a very niche market. – MacDailyNews, March 27, 2026

Apple’s Mac Pro is a dead end. Mac Studio is the high-end Mac future now. Bring on the M5 Ultra Mac Studio and rename it “Mac Pro.” – MacDailyNews, November 17, 2025

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