Apple’s long-awaited overhaul of its voice assistant, now branded Siri AI, is set to arrive this fall alongside iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS updates, and related system software. The upgraded assistant promises deeper personal context awareness, on-screen understanding, more natural conversations, and the ability to take actions across apps. But there’s a clear hardware cutoff: only devices that already support Apple Intelligence will receive the full experience at launch.

iPhone Models That Make the Cut

Siri AI requires an A17 Pro chip or newer (with sufficient RAM for on-device processing). Supported iPhones include:

• iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
• iPhone Air
• iPhone 17 and 17e
• iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max
• iPhone 16, 16 Plus, and 16e
• iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max

Older models, including the standard iPhone 15 and anything earlier, will get the broader iOS 27 update (interface changes, security fixes, and non-AI features), but miss out on the new Siri capabilities.

A subset of these devices — primarily the iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max, and iPhone Air — will also unlock Apple’s most powerful on-device AI model. That unlocks extras such as more expressive customizable voices, improved speech recognition, and higher-accuracy dictation.

iPads, Macs, Watches, and Vision Pro

Compatibility extends across the rest of the ecosystem with similar requirements:iPad: iPad Pro (M1 chip and later), iPad Air (M1 and later), and iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip.

• Mac: All models with Apple silicon (M1 and later), including the MacBook Neo with its A18 Pro chip.

• Apple Watch (must be paired with a nearby supported iPhone): Series 9 and later, Ultra 2 and later, and SE (3rd generation).

• Apple Vision Pro: All models.

The highest-tier on-device model is further restricted on tablets and computers to those with newer chips (M4 or later on iPad, M3 or later on Mac) plus at least 12 GB of unified memory.

Timeline and Limitations

Developer betas began around the June 2026 WWDC announcements, with a public beta expected in the following months and a stable consumer release targeted for fall 2026 (September timeframe). Siri AI will initially roll out in English (with Spanish support also noted in some documentation), and regional restrictions apply: it will not launch at the outset on iOS or iPadOS in the European Union due to regulatory considerations around the Digital Markets Act, though macOS and visionOS users in the EU will be able to access it. Availability in China is also delayed pending regulatory clearance.

Those without supported hardware will keep the classic Siri experience for now while still receiving the rest of the 2026 software updates. Apple continues to emphasize on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute for privacy, so the hardware bar reflects the computational demands of the more capable models.
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MacDailyNews Note: More info about Apple Intelligence and Siri here.

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You can delete stickers on iPhone without removing your entire collection, but the correct procedure depends on whether you want to erase a custom sticker, remove a Genmoji, hide keyboard stickers, or detach a sticker from a conversation.

For custom photo stickers and Live Stickers, iOS provides an individual Remove command. This lets you clean the sticker drawer while leaving every other saved sticker untouched.

Apple does not provide a protected Favorites folder inside the system sticker drawer. The Frequently Used section is created automatically from your activity and should not be treated as a permanent collection. If you have stickers you cannot afford to lose, save recoverable copies before beginning the cleanup.

Save Your Favorite Stickers First

The safest backup is to send your favorite stickers to a conversation with yourself. The sent copies remain inside the conversation even if you later remove the reusable versions from your sticker collection.

Adding Stickers:

Messages > New Message > Your Contact > Add > Stickers

Select each favorite sticker and send it as a separate message. You can also create a private conversation with a trusted contact, but messaging yourself keeps the backup separate from ordinary conversations.

If you accidentally delete one of these stickers from the drawer, return to the self-conversation and restore it.

Messages > Your Self-Conversation > Touch and Hold Sticker > Save to Stickers

For a sticker attached to the corner of a message bubble, open its details before saving it.

Messages > Your Self-Conversation > Touch and Hold Sticker > Sticker Details > Save

This procedure is especially useful for stickers received from other people. A photo sticker you created yourself can usually be recreated from the original image, but a saved sticker from another person may be difficult to replace if the original conversation is deleted.

How to Delete Stickers on iPhone

The easiest way to remove an individual custom sticker is through the Messages app. You can open any existing conversation because you do not need to send a message.

Removing individual stickers:

Messages > Conversation > Add > Stickers > Live Stickers

The Live Stickers tab uses an icon resembling a sticker being peeled from a surface. It contains stickers created from your photos, animated Live Stickers, and compatible stickers saved from conversations.

Touch and hold the unwanted sticker until the contextual menu appears, then release your finger and select Remove. Do not drag the sticker toward the conversation because that action may attach it to a message instead of opening the menu.

Touch and Hold Sticker > Remove

Only the selected sticker is deleted. Other photo stickers, saved designs, and favorite items remain in the collection.

Some iOS versions also display a Rearrange command after you touch and hold a sticker. This mode allows you to move the stickers you use most often toward the beginning of the collection.

Messages > Conversation > Add > Stickers > Live Stickers > Touch and Hold > Rearrange

Drag the stickers you want to preserve toward the first positions. You may also see a removal control beside each sticker while rearranging. Use it carefully because iOS may remove the sticker immediately without presenting a second confirmation.

A selective cleanup is safer than trying to reset the complete keyboard or sticker database. Removing and reinstalling the Emoji keyboard is unnecessary and may alter frequently used emoji without providing better sticker controls.

Delete Stickers Through the Emoji Keyboard

The same sticker collection is accessible from the system keyboard in Messages, Notes, Mail, and other supported apps.

Using system keyboard in Messages:

Any Text Field > Emoji Keyboard > Stickers > Live Stickers

Touch and hold the sticker you want to erase, then tap Remove. If the menu does not appear, confirm that you are viewing the Live Stickers collection rather than Frequently Used.

Frequently Used combines recently selected emoji, Memoji, Genmoji, and stickers. Items shown there are shortcuts to content stored in another section. Opening the Live Stickers tab gives iOS the correct context for managing your custom collection.

If the keyboard is compressed or several categories are hidden, swipe across the sticker controls until the Live Stickers icon becomes visible. The exact position can change as Apple adjusts the keyboard, but the touch-and-hold removal gesture remains the same.

Use Photos When the Sticker Menu Does Not Respond

You can also access the system sticker drawer through the Markup tools in Photos. This is useful when Messages tries to drag a sticker rather than displaying its menu.

Photos > Open Photo > Edit > Markup > Add > Add Sticker

Touch and hold the unwanted sticker, then tap Remove. You are managing the same synchronized collection, so a sticker deleted through Photos also disappears from Messages and the system keyboard.

Removing a sticker does not delete the source photograph. If you created the sticker by lifting a person, pet, or object from an image, the original photo remains in your library unless you delete it separately.

To recreate the sticker later, open the original image and lift its subject again.

Photos > Open Photo > Touch and Hold Subject > Add Sticker

You can then apply an effect such as Outline, Comic, Puffy, or Shiny. Live Photos can produce animated Live Stickers when the isolated subject contains usable motion.

Delete a Genmoji Without Removing Other Stickers

Genmoji created with Apple Intelligence are stored with the stickers accessible through the emoji keyboard. They can be removed individually without affecting your photo stickers or other generated designs.

Any Text Field > Emoji Keyboard > Stickers > Genmoji

Touch and hold the Genmoji you no longer want, then tap Remove. You can perform the same procedure from Messages.

Messages > Conversation > Add > Stickers > Genmoji > Touch and Hold > Remove

Removing one Genmoji does not disable Apple Intelligence or erase the other Genmoji you created. If you later want a similar design, open the Genmoji creator and enter the description again, although the generated image may not be identical.

Be More Careful With Memoji Stickers

Memoji stickers operate differently because iOS automatically creates a complete sticker pack from each custom Memoji character. You cannot normally delete one expression while keeping the remaining expressions from the same character.

Deleting the underlying Memoji removes its generated sticker pack. Before selecting Delete, confirm that you do not want any of that character’s poses or expressions.

Any Text Field > Emoji Keyboard > Memoji > More > Delete

If you only want Memoji and other stickers to stop appearing in the keyboard, use the keyboard setting instead of deleting the character.

Settings > General > Keyboard > Stickers

Turning off Stickers hides sticker content from the emoji keyboard. It does not provide a selective cleanup and should not be used as a substitute for removing individual items. Your saved stickers remain available when the setting is enabled again.

Remove a Sticker From a Message Without Deleting It

A sticker attached to a message bubble is separate from the reusable copy stored in your collection. Deleting it from the conversation does not erase the sticker from your drawer.

Messages > Conversation > Touch and Hold Message Bubble > Sticker Details

Find the sticker you want to detach, swipe left across it, and tap Delete. This removes that placement from the conversation on your iPhone.

Use this procedure when a sticker covers text, was attached accidentally, or no longer belongs in the conversation. If you instead open the sticker drawer and select Remove, you erase the reusable sticker while leaving previously sent copies in their conversations.

Understand What Happens Through iCloud

Custom stickers sync through iCloud to supported Apple devices using the same Apple Account. Removing a sticker from the iPhone can therefore remove it from the sticker drawers on an iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro.

There is no Recently Deleted album for the system sticker collection. Keep the original source photo or send valuable stickers to yourself before removing anything.

After a deletion, another Apple device may continue displaying the sticker briefly while synchronization completes. Closing and reopening the sticker drawer usually refreshes the collection. A favorite preserved in your self-conversation can be restored at any time through Touch and Hold Sticker > Save to Stickers.

The post How to Delete Stickers on iPhone Without Losing Favorites appeared first on AppleMagazine.

Learn how to make a wide or short image fit as your iPhone wallpaper by having Apple Intelligence generate and extend the missing parts.

iPhone 18e rumors point to a new release window, an unusual RAM bump and a screen that mostly stays the same.

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

Find out how to get rid of gigabytes of local macOS Apple Intelligence files from your Mac to free up space (albeit temporarily).

Imagine slipping in a pair of AirPods that don’t just play your music or take your calls, they help you see the world. Not by recording it, but by understanding it. According to the latest rumors from reliable sources, Apple may be ready to deliver exactly that sooner than many expected.

Reports indicate Apple has been internally testing two versions of camera-equipped AirPods. One carries the codename B798, which has been on the radar for some time. The other, B790, appears newer and is advancing more quickly. References to the B790 model have already shown up in iOS 27 beta code, a strong signal that development is well underway, Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman reports.

This timeline points to a possible launch as early as this year. Apple often pairs new AirPods with its September iPhone event. Last year’s AirPods Pro 3 debuted alongside the iPhone 17 on September 9. A similar window this fall, potentially with the iPhone 18, would fit the pattern. And, given how little of 2026 remains, “soon” is a realistic possibility.

Rumors also suggest these advanced models could arrive under a name like AirPods Pro Ultra, positioning them as a premium, AI-focused offering above the standard lineup. Importantly, Apple is expected to continue selling conventional AirPods for those who simply want excellent audio.

What the Cameras Are Actually For

Forget the idea of Google Glass-style recording or constant content capture. The cameras in these AirPods are not designed to take photos or videos. Instead, they would analyze the wearer’s surroundings to power an onboard AI assistant—think an enhanced, more context-aware Siri. This approach aims to create a true wearable AI companion rather than a surveillance or creator tool.

Privacy remains a key consideration. A small LED indicator would light up when the cameras are active, similar to the approach used in smart glasses, giving nearby people a clear visual cue. This design choice reflects broader industry caution: Apple has reportedly considered delaying its own smart glasses amid backlash over privacy issues and misuse of devices like Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses.

Why This Matters

If these rumors hold, camera-equipped AirPods would mark a significant step in Apple’s wearable strategy. They would extend the company’s AI ambitions beyond phones and computers into everyday, always-on, wearable accessories that can interpret the environment in real time. For users, that could mean more natural, hands-free assistance — whether identifying objects, providing contextual help, or enhancing accessibility features — without the bulk or social friction of glasses.

Of course, these remain unconfirmed reports based on internal testing and code references. Apple has not officially announced any such product. Still, the combination of dual prototypes, software breadcrumbs, and an accelerating development path for the newer model makes this one of the more concrete AirPods rumors in recent memory.

As we head toward the traditional September reveal window, the prospect of AirPods that can “see” enough to assist—without turning every wearer into a walking camera—feels both futuristic and characteristically Apple: ambitious, privacy-conscious, and focused on making technology disappear into daily life. Whether they arrive this fall or a bit later, the era of AI-powered earbuds appears to be approaching fast.
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MacDailyNews Take: We prefer the name “AirPods AI, but given the friction AI poses in some circle, “AirPods Ultra” may be the better marketing choice. Regardless, we’ll be first in line for these!

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Apple in China occupies a position unlike the company’s presence in any other country. China is simultaneously a major consumer market, a critical manufacturing center, an extensive developer economy and the home of Apple’s most determined hardware competitors.

That combination creates an opportunity few technology companies can ignore. China has hundreds of millions of affluent mobile users, a strong appetite for premium devices and a digital economy built around smartphones.

It also creates unusual complexity. Apple must compete with Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo while satisfying Chinese regulations, navigating tensions between Beijing and Washington and reducing its manufacturing dependence without damaging the supplier network that helped make the iPhone possible.

The latest market figures show why Apple cannot treat China as a business it has already lost. IDC estimated that Apple captured 18.1 percent of Chinese smartphone shipments during the second quarter of 2026, placing it second behind Huawei at 22.6 percent.

Apple’s shipments increased by 24.4 percent from the previous year even as the wider Chinese smartphone market contracted. The recovery demonstrated that Chinese demand for the iPhone remains substantial when product design, storage, performance and pricing align with consumer expectations.

The same figures also show why the position can never be considered secure. Huawei remains ahead, local brands respond quickly and a few percentage points can separate several major vendors.

Apple in China Still Has Room to Grow

China is already one of Apple’s largest markets, but its scale means that even established product categories contain room for expansion.

The country has a large premium smartphone segment, extensive 5G coverage and consumers accustomed to using mobile devices for communication, payments, shopping, entertainment, transport and work.

An iPhone purchase can also lead to AirPods, Apple Watch, iPad, Mac, iCloud storage and paid applications. The commercial opportunity is therefore larger than the initial handset transaction.

Apple’s strongest advantage is its integrated ecosystem. An iPhone can share passwords, photographs, messages and files with a Mac or iPad, while AirPods and Apple Watch extend the experience without requiring separate accounts and setup systems.

That continuity becomes more valuable as households accumulate devices. Replacing one iPhone is relatively easy. Leaving an ecosystem containing several products, purchased applications, cloud storage and shared family services involves greater friction.

Apple also benefits from a premium identity that remains recognizable in China. Local manufacturers now produce sophisticated flagship phones, but the iPhone continues to operate as both a personal computer and a luxury consumer product.

The importance of that status should not be exaggerated. Chinese buyers are technically informed and increasingly willing to support domestic brands. Brand recognition can attract attention, but it does not excuse weak features or an uncompetitive product cycle.

Recent iPhone Demand Shows the Opportunity

Apple’s 2026 recovery offers a useful example of how quickly its position can improve.

China’s smartphone shipments fell 4.3 percent during the second quarter as memory and component costs pushed several manufacturers toward higher prices. Apple and Huawei held prices more stable, giving buyers a reason to purchase while competing brands became more expensive.

The iPhone 17 generation also addressed several areas where Apple’s standard models had appeared conservative beside Chinese flagships. Stronger base specifications made the regular iPhone more competitive without requiring every customer to move into the Pro tier.

This matters in a market where consumers compare display technology, camera systems, storage, battery life, charging and AI features closely. Apple cannot depend entirely on iOS loyalty when domestic companies introduce visible hardware improvements at several price levels.

The rebound does not establish a permanent trend. Smartphone demand in China remains affected by economic confidence, upgrade cycles, government incentives and the timing of major shopping festivals.

Apple’s position can also look different according to the research firm and whether a report measures shipments or consumer sales. Quarterly rankings should be treated as evidence of momentum rather than a final judgment on the market.

The important signal is that Chinese consumers have not broadly rejected the iPhone. Demand can return rapidly when the product and price create a convincing upgrade.

Huawei Makes China Apple’s Hardest Market

Huawei gives Apple a competitor with advantages unavailable to most global smartphone manufacturers.

The company combines strong national recognition with advanced cameras, communications technology, custom chips, local services and an expanding HarmonyOS ecosystem. Its return to premium smartphones removed the opening Apple had gained when U.S. restrictions disrupted Huawei’s access to important components.

Huawei can also position its products as part of China’s technological self-reliance. That message carries commercial and political weight beyond a conventional comparison between two phones.

Apple must therefore compete against product quality and national sentiment simultaneously. An iPhone can offer strong performance and still lose a purchase to a domestic flagship viewed as technically capable and strategically important.

Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo add different pressures. They move quickly across price categories, experiment with folding designs, adopt larger batteries and provide features adapted to local applications and buying habits.

Chinese phone makers also operate inside a retail and software environment they understand directly. They can build relationships with local platforms, carriers and commerce services without translating a global strategy into Chinese requirements.

Apple follows a more centralized product model. That consistency protects the identity of the iPhone, but it can make the company slower to answer features gaining popularity inside one country.

Services Depend on Local Rules

Apple in China is not only an iPhone business. The installed device base creates demand for applications, cloud storage, entertainment, subscriptions and digital purchases.

China has an enormous developer community producing games, commerce platforms, social services, education tools and productivity software. The App Store connects those developers with high-value iPhone and iPad customers.

The relationship is commercially important but politically complicated. Apple must operate the mainland App Store according to Chinese law, including rules affecting games, generative AI, communications services and content.

Applications available elsewhere may be absent from the Chinese storefront. Developers may also need licenses or regulatory approval before distributing certain categories of software.

Apple changed commission rates and related policies for the mainland China storefront in March 2026. The company described the adjustments as part of maintaining a strong business opportunity for Chinese developers.

Regulatory and developer pressure has not disappeared. Complaints involving commissions, distribution restrictions and payment policies continue to challenge Apple’s control of the platform.

The company cannot simply copy its response from another region. European rules focus heavily on alternative marketplaces and interoperability, while China combines competition concerns with content regulation, data localization and licensing requirements.

Every concession must therefore be designed for a distinct legal environment without fragmenting iOS into an unmanageable collection of regional systems.

China Is Also Part of the Product

Apple’s relationship with China extends far beyond the devices sold there.

For more than two decades, Apple and its manufacturing partners built a dense network of factories, component suppliers, engineers, logistics operators and toolmakers across the country.

That network does more than provide low-cost labor. It can place specialists from several suppliers near an assembly site, modify production lines quickly and increase output to enormous volumes during a product launch.

China’s infrastructure also supports the less visible stages of manufacturing. Components require precision tooling, testing equipment, chemicals, packaging, subassemblies and experienced quality-control teams before final assembly begins.

Apple has expanded iPhone production in India and moved parts of its Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and AirPods supply chains to countries including Vietnam. It is also increasing semiconductor and component commitments in the United States.

Those investments reduce the danger of relying on one country, but they do not recreate China’s complete manufacturing environment immediately.

A factory in another region may assemble an iPhone while still depending on Chinese machinery, materials, subcomponents or engineering support. Production diversification is therefore a gradual redistribution of individual stages rather than a clean departure.

Apple must reduce concentration risk without weakening the manufacturing system responsible for its product quality, scale and launch schedules.

Trade Tensions Turn Efficiency Into Risk

The same China supply chain that provides Apple with extraordinary efficiency also exposes the company to political decisions outside its control.

Tariffs can raise the cost of devices exported from Chinese factories. Export restrictions can limit access to materials or production equipment, while sanctions may affect suppliers and technology partners.

Chinese government policies can influence the use of foreign devices inside state agencies and companies. U.S. rules can restrict the technologies available to Chinese firms that also participate in Apple’s supplier network.

Apple cannot solve these problems through product design alone. It must maintain relationships with two governments whose technology policies increasingly emphasize security, domestic production and strategic independence.

Moving more assembly to India gives Apple additional flexibility, particularly for iPhones destined for the United States. China nevertheless remains important as a production center and consumer market.

An aggressive withdrawal could damage supplier relationships and local sales. Moving too slowly could leave Apple vulnerable to another trade disruption.

The company is trying to preserve Chinese capabilities while creating enough capacity elsewhere to keep a political dispute from becoming a worldwide product shortage.

Retail Stores Give Apple a Direct Relationship

Apple’s physical stores remain an important advantage in China because they give the company direct contact with customers.

The stores allow buyers to compare models, receive technical support, attend educational sessions and enter the ecosystem without depending entirely on a carrier or reseller.

That experience is particularly valuable for premium products. A customer considering a Mac, Apple Vision Pro or high-end iPhone may need more explanation than someone replacing an inexpensive handset.

Retail locations also communicate long-term commitment. A prominent store represents more than a sales channel; it signals that Apple intends to remain part of the local technology market.

Online commerce is equally important. Chinese consumers are accustomed to large shopping festivals, aggressive promotions and rapid delivery through domestic platforms.

Apple must balance its controlled global pricing with a market where discounts can change quarterly rankings. Too little flexibility makes the iPhone appear expensive, while frequent reductions can train customers to delay purchases and weaken its premium image.

The strongest 2026 performance came partly from avoiding price increases while component costs were forcing rivals to reconsider their pricing. That advantage may disappear when competitors adjust their supply chains or launch another cycle of promotions.

Chinese Consumers Set a Higher Product Standard

China is often discussed as a sales problem for Apple, but it also functions as a demanding test of the iPhone.

Domestic flagship phones compete through larger batteries, rapid charging, advanced camera hardware, folding displays and deep integration with local digital services.

Features considered experimental elsewhere can become established expectations more quickly in China. Apple’s slower adoption cycle may look disciplined in one market and conservative in another.

The company must decide which expectations represent durable improvements and which are temporary specification contests. Copying every local feature would weaken Apple’s focused product strategy, but ignoring major changes creates openings for rivals.

This pressure can benefit Apple globally. Competition in China forces the company to defend the value of its standard iPhone, improve battery efficiency, strengthen cameras and make software features more useful outside English-speaking markets.

The opportunity is therefore not limited to selling more devices. China can reveal where Apple’s global assumptions no longer match the most competitive part of the smartphone industry.

The post Apple in China Is Its Greatest Opportunity and Hardest Test appeared first on AppleMagazine.

Apple Notes in iOS 27 receives a focused collection of upgrades designed to make long documents easier to navigate and information simpler to move between apps.

Section links allow users to jump directly to headings inside a note. Divider lines create clearer visual boundaries, while expanded Markdown support improves workflows involving websites, writing tools and plain-text editors.

Siri AI introduces the most ambitious addition by creating notes, adding information to existing documents and transferring answers from a Siri conversation without requiring manual copying.

Image Playground also becomes more capable inside Notes, gaining additional visual styles and photorealistic image generation through Apple’s new cloud-based model.

Not every feature requires Apple Intelligence. Divider lines, section links, Markdown tools and the updated interface work on every iPhone compatible with iOS 27. Siri AI and advanced Image Playground capabilities need newer hardware and may have additional language or regional restrictions.

Apple Notes iOS 27 Adds Section Links

Section links solve one of the largest problems affecting long notes: reaching information located several screens below the beginning.

A user can now select text, choose Add Link and connect it to any heading or subheading inside the current note. Tapping that linked text immediately moves the reader to the selected section.

The feature can turn the opening of a document into a manual table of contents. A project note might contain links to its schedule, budget, participants, research and outstanding tasks without requiring separate documents.

To create a section link:

Select text > Add Link > Link to Section > Choose a heading

Notes displays the headings and subheadings already present in the document. Regular body paragraphs do not appear as destinations, so the note must use Apple’s title or heading formats before links can be created.

To format a destination:

Select the section title > Formatting > Heading or Subheading

The visible link text does not need to match the destination heading. A phrase such as “View the current budget” can link to a section titled “Financial Information.”

Section links differ from the existing ability to connect separate notes. Apple Notes already allows users to create internal links leading from one document to another. The new control moves within the same document instead.

That distinction is useful for meeting records, research files, travel plans and study material that become too long for ordinary scrolling but do not need to be divided into several notes.

Links should continue working when the document is shared through iCloud because they point to structural elements inside the note rather than fixed screen positions.

Renaming or deleting a destination heading may affect its link. Users maintaining complex documents should test their navigation after reorganizing major sections.

Divider Lines Improve Visual Structure

Apple Notes in iOS 27 adds horizontal divider lines as a native formatting element.

The line creates a visible separation across the document without requiring users to type repeated hyphens, underscores or other characters.

To add one:

Place the cursor > Open the edit menu > Insert Divider Line

The divider is inserted at the cursor position and moves with the surrounding content as the note changes.

A horizontal line can separate meeting notes by date, distinguish reference material from personal comments or divide a recipe into ingredients, preparation and serving information.

It also provides structure without making every section a heading. Headings define the hierarchy used by section links, while dividers create a visual break that does not become another navigation destination.

Typing a row of hyphens previously produced an inconsistent substitute. The characters could wrap on a narrow screen, change length after editing or become difficult to select. The native element maintains its appearance as the document moves among iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Divider lines should be used selectively. Adding one between every short paragraph can make the note look more fragmented rather than organized.

The strongest layout combines headings for major subjects, subheadings for smaller divisions and divider lines where one type of content clearly ends before another begins.

Markdown Moves More Easily Into Apple Notes

Apple Notes gained the ability to import and export Markdown files with iOS 26. The iOS 27 upgrade removes additional steps from copying content between Notes and Markdown-based tools.

Markdown uses plain-text characters to represent formatting. A hash symbol can identify a heading, pairs of asterisks can create bold text and square brackets can define a link.

The format is widely used by writers, developers, documentation systems and publishing platforms because it remains readable without requiring a proprietary editor.

When Markdown-formatted text is pasted into Apple Notes in iOS 27, the app automatically converts the syntax into rich text. Headings become formatted headings, links become clickable and emphasis appears as bold or italic text.

A pasted line such as Project Schedule appears as a formatted heading rather than displaying the two hash symbols.

Moving content in the opposite direction is also easier. Apple has added a Copy as Markdown command that converts selected rich text into Markdown syntax before placing it on the clipboard.

To use it:

Select the text > Open the edit menu > Copy as Markdown

The result can be pasted into a content-management system, code editor, Markdown document or another writing application while preserving supported formatting.

Copy as Markdown does not transform Apple Notes into a complete Markdown editor. Users continue writing through the familiar rich-text interface rather than viewing raw syntax throughout the document.

Complex attachments may not translate perfectly. Scanned documents, drawings, audio recordings, embedded files and some tables do not have universal Markdown equivalents.

Basic elements such as headings, links, emphasis and lists provide the most dependable transfer. Users preparing an important publication should review the pasted result before assuming every element survived the conversion.

Siri AI Can Create and Update Notes

Siri AI gives Apple Notes in iOS 27 a more direct connection with information generated or located through the assistant.

A user can ask Siri a question, refine the answer through conversation and save the result into a new note. The transfer happens without selecting the response, copying it and leaving Siri to open Notes manually.

A request could take the following form:

“Create a note called Kyoto Trip and add this itinerary.”

Siri can also target an existing document when the user identifies it clearly:

“Add these restaurant suggestions to my Kyoto Trip note.”

The integration extends beyond saving complete answers. Siri AI can reorganize poorly formatted information, convert text into a clearer structure and place the revised version inside Notes.

Someone collecting an unorganized group of tasks could ask Siri to separate them by priority before saving the result. A block of research could be converted into headings and shorter paragraphs.

Siri’s personal-context capabilities can help locate an existing note when the precise title is forgotten. The assistant is designed to search information across apps and understand requests using details connected to the user.

These actions remain subject to permissions. Siri should not silently place information into a document without recognizing the requested destination and action.

Users should review AI-generated material before treating it as authoritative. Reformatting supplied text carries less factual risk than asking Siri to generate research, dates, quotations or instructions from general knowledge.

Siri AI Requires Newer iPhone Hardware

The main Apple Notes iOS 27 update runs on iPhone 11 and later, as well as the second-generation iPhone SE and newer models.

Siri AI has a narrower hardware requirement. Apple lists iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and every iPhone 16 or later model as compatible with the new Apple Intelligence architecture.

An iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 14 or iPhone 11 can receive section links, dividers, Markdown support and the redesigned Notes interface. Those devices cannot use the Siri AI note-writing actions.

This separation means two iPhones running the same operating system can display different Notes capabilities.

Siri AI is scheduled to reach users as a beta later in 2026, beginning in English. Apple plans to expand language availability, but individual capabilities may not arrive simultaneously in every supported language.

The assistant will not initially be available on iPhone or iPad in the European Union. Apple has also said its new Apple Intelligence features will remain unavailable in China while the company works through regulatory requirements.

Ordinary Siri controls may continue to perform basic actions on unsupported devices, such as creating a simple dictated note. They should not be confused with the new ability to hold a conversation, reorganize information and add the result to a chosen document.

Image Playground Expands Inside Notes

Image Playground remains integrated with Apple Notes in iOS 27 and receives a substantially more capable generation model.

The upgraded system can produce higher-quality images in a wider range of visual styles, including photorealistic results. Earlier Image Playground versions concentrated on illustration, animation and sketch-like appearances.

Users can describe an image and insert the generated result into the current note. A travel plan might receive a destination image, while a creative project could use generated concept art beside written ideas.

Photorealistic generation runs through Private Cloud Compute rather than entirely on the iPhone. Apple says requests processed through this architecture are not stored or made accessible to the company.

Generated images automatically include a hidden SynthID watermark identifying them as AI-created. The watermark does not appear as a visible label across the picture, but it provides a technical signal that compatible systems can detect.

Image generation may have daily usage limits because it depends on powerful server models. Apple says most iCloud+ plans will provide increased access, although the exact allowance can depend on the subscription and service conditions available at release.

The complete Image Playground experience may not appear in every early iOS 27 beta. Apple can activate or adjust cloud-dependent features separately while testing the operating system.

New Icons Clarify Shared Notes and Folders

Apple Notes adopts the wider iOS 27 design changes through refreshed buttons, menus and Liquid Glass interface elements.

The Notes app icon has been updated while preserving the familiar yellow-and-white paper design. The change keeps the app recognizable without leaving it visually disconnected from the new system icons.

Shared material receives clearer identification. The shared folder displayed near the top of the folder list now uses a blue icon, separating it more clearly from private iCloud and local folders.

Individual shared notes and folders also receive revised symbols. These indicators make it easier to understand whether another person can view or edit material before sensitive information is added.

The distinction matters because a collaborative note can look almost identical to a private document once it is open. A clearer icon in the list provides another warning before the user begins editing.

Liquid Glass changes the appearance of controls and menus but does not alter the underlying note format. Existing notes, scans, checklists, attachments and locked documents remain available after the update.

People using accessibility settings such as increased contrast, reduced transparency or reduced motion may see a modified version of the visual design.

Existing Notes Features Remain Available

The iOS 27 changes build on a much larger set of capabilities introduced during earlier releases.

Apple Notes can already scan documents, attach PDFs, record audio, generate transcripts, solve mathematical expressions, create checklists and collaborate through iCloud.

Users can link one note to another, place notes inside folders, apply tags and create Smart Folders that collect documents according to selected rules.

Locked notes can use a device passcode or separate password, while Face ID provides faster access on supported iPhones.

The app can also identify handwriting, search text inside scanned documents and recognize information contained in images.

None of those existing tools has been replaced by Siri AI or Markdown. The new version concentrates on moving through large notes and transferring information with less manual work.

Section links are particularly effective when combined with audio transcripts or lengthy scanned research. A user can create headings above important material and place navigation links at the beginning of the document.

Markdown support addresses another gap by making Notes more practical as the first stage of a publishing workflow rather than a closed destination for text.

What to Check Before Installing the iOS 27 Beta

Apple Notes in iOS 27 is available for testing through prerelease software, with the complete operating-system release scheduled for the fall.

Beta software can contain synchronization failures, interface problems and changes that Apple has not finished documenting. Notes is especially sensitive because its content may synchronize immediately across every device using the same Apple Account.

Before installing a beta on a primary iPhone, users should confirm that important notes have finished syncing and that another copy of critical information exists outside the beta device.

A Mac, iPad or iCloud.com can be used to verify whether recent documents have reached the server. Exporting especially important notes as PDFs or Markdown files provides an additional copy that does not depend on the Notes database.

Collaborative notes require more caution. People using older operating systems may not see every new formatting element exactly as intended, particularly while iOS 27 remains in testing.

The public release should resolve many compatibility issues, but Siri AI will follow its own beta schedule and regional limitations. Installing iOS 27 alone will not guarantee that every intelligent Notes action appears immediately.

Apple can still modify menu locations, visual elements and cloud-based features before the final version arrives. The safest time to reorganize a large Notes library around section links will be after every frequently used Apple device can install its corresponding fall update.

The post Apple Notes iOS 27 Upgrade Adds Smarter Organization appeared first on AppleMagazine.

According to Gene Munster, an X poll indicated that only about 17% of U.S. iPhone users engage with Siri on a daily basis, a notably low figure given that the average iPhone is interacted with more than 100 times per day. At present, Siri is primarily used for low-stakes tasks and is not widely trusted as a full assistant.

Munster anticipates that this will begin to change over the next year. A new version — Siri AI — will become available in the U.S. late this year through an iOS 27 update. In beta testing conducted over the past 20 days, the feature was observed to be slow; however, this drawback was more than offset by an AI assistant that simply works effectively.

Ultimately, Munster believes that increased use of Siri (which is central to Apple’s personalized AI) will form the foundation of the value proposition for Apple devices.

Gene Munster via GeneMunster.com:
‎

We ran a simple one-question poll on X asking, “How often do you use Siri?” The poll drew 1,750 votes. The raw results showed daily Siri use at a low 17%, with 39% reporting they never use it. As a daily Siri user, these numbers caught my attention, underscoring the degree of brand damage the feature has endured over the past decade.

• Daily: 17%
• Weekly: 7%
• Rarely: 37%
• Never: 39%

The comments were more telling than the poll. Across 64 replies, the message was clear and expected: Siri survives as a basic utility or shortcut, not an assistant…

My takeaway: Siri today is, on average, not trusted. It works for a narrow set of commands where the cost of failure is low.

The question is, once Siri gets overhauled, will the 83% of users who question its utility give it another try? I believe the answer is yes.

‎
MacDailyNews Take: We fully agree with Gene.

Siri AI no longer just marketing. The rebuilt architecture works in real life — helping with souvenirs for the kids, prepping for your day, or analyzing your breakfast — while staying firmly within responsible boundaries.

The old Siri is gone. The new Siri AI has arrived in a very promising way – and it’s still just in beta. Our little birdies — who’ve been telling for months that the new Siri not only works, but is actually pretty great — knew what they were talking about! – MacDailyNews, June 20, 2026

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The post Daily usage of Siri among iPhone owners is currently 17%; that will change – Gene Munster appeared first on MacDailyNews.

A truly helpful addition, iOS 27 Call Context automatically pulls confirmation codes and other relevant info into the Phone app during calls.

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

In May, Apple agreed to pay $250 million to settle a U.S. class action lawsuit over Siri AI's delayed launch, and eligible iPhone users could receive up to a $95 payout.


Apple's settlement has now received preliminary approval from a judge, according to a July 17 court document. However, there is no settlement website yet, and it may take months before eligible customers can begin submitting claims. In other words, no action is required from eligible customers at this time, but stay tuned for updates.

Below, we have answered some key questions regarding the lawsuit.

Why Was Apple Sued?

In June 2024, Apple previewed new Siri capabilities powered by Apple Intelligence, including understanding of a user's personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper per-app controls. For example, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info from the Mail and Messages apps.

Apple advertised those Siri features in product presentations, on its website, in a TV commercial starring actor Bella Ramsey, and elsewhere.


In March 2025, Apple delayed the launch of the personalized version of Siri, leading to the company being hit with a class action lawsuit alleging false advertising.

In a statement, Apple touted a range of other Apple Intelligence features it had already released. Nevertheless, Apple agreed to settle the lawsuit "to stay focused" on "delivering the most innovative products and services to our users."

Apple finally announced "Siri AI" at WWDC 2026 last month, and the revamped assistant is available to test on the iOS 27 developer beta, with a public beta to follow this month. iOS 27 should be released in September, at which point "Siri AI" will finally be available to all users with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.

Am I Eligible?

To be eligible to submit a claim, you must reside in the U.S. and have purchased any iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 model between June 10, 2024 and March 29, 2025.

The full list of eligible iPhone models:

• iPhone 15 Pro


• iPhone 15 Pro Max


• iPhone 16


• iPhone 16e


• iPhone 16 Plus


• iPhone 16 Pro


• iPhone 16 Pro Max

It is unlikely that individuals who submit a claim will still need to have physical possession of an eligible iPhone model. However, there is a possibility that proof of purchase or other information will be required, such as the device's serial number. Exact requirements will be outlined on the settlement website, which is still not live.

How Much Will Apple Pay Me?

According to the terms of the settlement, each person who files an eligible claim will receive a per-device payment of $25, but this amount could increase up to $95 if the total number of claims submitted is lower than anticipated.

Where and When Can I Submit a Claim?

Over the coming months, a settlement website is expected to go live with an online claims form.

Eligible class members will be notified by email within approximately 45 days after the settlement received preliminary approval, according to the court documents. Even if you are not notified but are a U.S. resident who purchased one of the above iPhone models within the above dates, you are still eligible if you meet the criteria.
This article, "Siri Settlement Approved: Apple to Pay Owners of Some iPhone Models" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

An AI shopping assistant is coming to the Apple Store app, complete with a chat interface and personalized recommendations.

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

Apple is preparing a comprehensive refresh of its entire Mac ecosystem, with new models of the MacBook Air, iMac, MacBook Pro, a new “Neo” variant, Mac mini, and Mac Studio slated for release across this fall and into next year.

According to Bloomberg News‘ Mark Gurman, the technology giant aims to meet surging demand for powerful AI-capable machines by updating every Mac it currently sells. The overhaul includes long-awaited desktop refreshes and several laptop redesigns, positioning Apple to better compete in an increasingly AI-driven computing landscape.

The rollout begins later this year with an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro powered by the M6 chip and refreshed iMac models. These updates address pent-up demand for modern desktops and more affordable professional laptops.

Further ahead, Apple plans higher-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring OLED displays and touchscreen capabilities, expected in late 2026 or early 2027 with M5 Pro and Max chips. New MacBook Air variants, including potential OLED versions, and a more powerful “MacBook Neo” with expanded RAM are also in the works.

Desktop users can look forward to updates for the Mac mini and Mac Studio, though some launches may face minor delays due to memory shortages driven by strong AI component demand.

This broad hardware push comes as Apple seeks to leverage its Apple Intelligence features and next-generation chips to drive sales amid a competitive market. The company is also introducing an “Apple Upgrade” leasing program in partnership with Klarna to make switching devices easier for customers.

MacDailyNews Take: With John Ternus stepping into the CEO role (effective September 1, 2026), Apple appears to be rediscovering a sharper product-first mindset. Ternus, long seen as a hardware and design deep-diver with decades of hands-on experience across iPad, Mac, and Apple Silicon development, brings a different emphasis than the iterative, operations-focus that defined the Cook slog.

The benefits to Apple Inc. and Apple device users of again having a product-focused CEO at Apple’s helm are already occurring!

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The post Apple gears up for total Mac lineup overhaul to capitalize on AI demand appeared first on MacDailyNews.

Apple has finally completed its silicon transition: macOS 27 drops all Intel-based Macs, and iPadOS 27 and watchOS 27 each leave five models by the wayside, whereas the iPhone compatibility list remains unchanged.

Federico Viticci (Mastodon):

The AI frontier from the two big labs (and – we have to be honest with the numbers here – probably SpaceXAI and Meta now, too) is in a completely different league at the moment. I spent my first couple of weeks with Siri AI trying to convince myself that I could replace Codex with Siri AI, and that was the wrong approach. There is a potential future in which Siri AI can become a more proactive and capable agent, but that’s not what Apple is shipping this year.

[…]

Siri AI is a dramatically better Siri for typical Siri stuff. The new Siri understands your commands and nuanced requests better because of the LLMs behind it; it can often perform multiple requests in one go (such as setting multiple timers with one command); the new expressive (and customizable!) voices sound great, and they’re terrific at reading and summarizing notifications. Apple’s first advantage compared to other chatbots is right here: only Siri can integrate with the iPhone and iPad to this extent, so even if the Foundation models aren’t as smart as the competition, Siri can do a lot more for most people on their devices because neither OpenAI nor Anthropic have OSes they can control.

[…]

The biggest issue I’ve encountered is the inconsistency of it all. Very often, the new Siri AI still replies with a generic “Uh oh, something went wrong“ error that doesn’t explain what the error was or why it happened. Sometimes, I ask a question via voice, and it errors out, but then a few seconds later, I type the same question in the app, and it’s fine.

[…]

My problem is that, right now with Apple’s own apps, both the index and Siri’s ability to perform actions are very inconsistent. The assistant hallucinates abilities it doesn’t have, and it frequently just doesn’t work.

Dan Moren:

The good news is that Siri AI is capable: impressively so, at times. In the lowest of low bars, it certainly beats the pants off the previous incarnation of Siri, but its access to your own personal data and all of the app on your phone also unlocks a host of new possibilities.

But it’s also not without the pitfalls that underlie all LLM-powered chatbots: errors in understanding, hallucinations, and so on.

[…]

The app itself is pretty barebones, letting you view those conversations in List or Grid layouts, select multiple conversations to delete them, and pin or rename any single conversation. In Settings : Siri, you can choose to either open to the overview or to a new conversation and decide whether old conversations are kept for 30 days, 1 year, or forever. It’s a little strange that one-off queries (“What’s the average height of the Norwegian World Cup team?”) are stored alongside more involved conversations (“Can you help me build a specific RSS feed for this site?”); I also ended up with a few orphan blank “New conversations” which I deleted, but it’d be nice if you could filter to find those. Conversations are fully searchable and sync between devices via iCloud.

John Voorhees:

Despite the current limitations, if you use chatbots as a replacement for Google Search, you’ll probably have a good experience with the new Siri app. That’s because even in these early betas, if you ask Siri something like, “Give me a day trip itinerary for a trip to Chicago this Saturday,” you’re likely to get good but pretty middle-of-the-road recommendations. From there, though, you can drill down with follow-up queries to get something more in line with your tastes. The results include source links you can follow, too. Given the ad-strewn mess that web search has become, using Siri for this sort of thing is a meaningfully better experience.

The one caveat on Siri’s world knowledge is that it’s roughly 2-3 weeks stale in some places.

[…]

A good example is Music. You can prompt Siri to play a song, but most of the rich metadata in the app isn’t exposed to Siri, which is a shame because it is exposed elsewhere, for example to AppleScript.

Previously:

• macOS 27 Public Beta
• iOS 27 Public Beta
• No Siri AI in EU
• Siri AI Announced

Update (2026-08-04): Benjamin Mayo:

Thanks to the top-to-bottom revamp that is Siri AI, Siri is reliably intelligent. Finally. We are still in the midst of beta season, and Apple is yet to confirm whether Siri AI will formally launch with iOS 27 in September or sometime later in the year, but the feature is up to scratch. There are bugs and glitches and edge-case quirks, but on the whole, it wipes the floor with old Siri and is competent enough to supplant my everyday usage of other chatbots too.

[…]

Siri AI can get a snapshot of what’s on screen, but it cannot control the UI for you autonomously. As such, if you ask it to do something outside of its library of available app actions, it will say it can’t do that. Often, it can quote the relevant steps for you to do it yourself, but obviously that falls short of the ideal experience. This feels a bit lacklustre to people already embracing AI agents en masse. Claude and Codex on Mac do not hit these walls; they are all too keen to move your mouse for you and run terminal commands until the job is done.

Previously:

• ChatGPT Work and ChatGPT Classic
• Claude Desktop App
• Perplexity Personal Computer
• Codex for Almost Everything

Sarah Perez (PDF, Hacker News, MacRumors):

The iPhone maker alleges that this misconduct, which it says reveals a pattern of theft from OpenAI employees who previously worked at Apple, was directed by OpenAI’s senior leadership, including Chief Hardware Officer Tang Tan.

The lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses Tan of using Apple’s confidential project code names during OpenAI’s recruiting process, asking job candidates to bring in Apple hardware components to their interviews, coaching departing Apple employees on how to evade the company’s security procedures, and asking for details about the company’s unannounced products.

Apple’s allegations are detailed and shocking, and it sounds like they have a lot of evidence.

Chance Miller:

The lawsuit names Chang Liu and Tang Tan as two of the defendants. Tang Tan served as VP of product design at Apple, leading iPhone and Apple Watch product design. He departed the company in February 2024 to work with Jony Ive. Chang Liu, meanwhile, worked at Apple for eight years and was a senior system electrical engineer before departing to join OpenAI in January 2026.

Apple’s lawsuit also names OpenAI and io Products as defendants.

OpenAI’s hardware efforts are being led by Jony Ive, Apple’s former chief design officer.

[…]

Ive, Hankey, and Cannon are not personally mentioned anywhere in Apple’s initial filing today.

Emma Roth:

Here are the most surprising claims in Apple’s 41-page filing.

Marcus Mendes (MacRumors):

OpenAI’s Director of Strategic Communications, Drew Pusateri, took to X to comment on the company’s behalf.

In his post, he claims OpenAI has “no interest in other companies’ trade secrets,” adding that OpenAI remains “focused on building innovative technology that empowers people everywhere.”

This seems like a weak response, given that Apple says it reported its findings to OpenAI in February and never heard back. Presumably, they’ve already investigated but see the situation as serious enough that they need to say as little as possible.

It’s not clear to me the extent to which Apple believes the behavior was limited to the named defendants. It’s hard to believe that the rest of OpenAI’s leadership—including Altman and Ive—were unaware, given the scale of their recruiting from Apple. It’s equally hard to believe that they were aware and thought they could get away with it. I guess little from Altman would surprise me at this point. I’d like to believe that Ive wasn’t part of it, but then are we to believe that his former coworkers all kept him in the dark?

Nick Heer:

What is immediately notable about this whole thing is the myriad conflicts of interest. Apple, of course, has a current partnership with OpenAI to power Apple Intelligence features, something repeatedly mentioned on the previous version of its marketing webpage, and conspicuously absent on the current one.

But the history runs far deeper. Among the defendants in the suit is io Products — do not blame me for that capitalization choice — founded by Jony Ive and acquired by OpenAI last May. Total mentions of “Ive” in the body of this lawsuit? Zero. Also, one of the investors in Ive’s company was Emerson Collective, founded by Laurene Powell Jobs, and which now has equity in OpenAI. Neither Emerson nor Powell Jobs are defendants.

M.G. Siegler:

It all reads a bit as if Apple has been building up evidence of these allegations for some time and recently got their smoking gun. It’s not just nebulous “trade secrets” either, there are specific mentions down to “metal finishing techniques” that Apple apparently invented and protected.

It also comes a little less than a month after OpenAI was rumored to be threatening Apple with a lawsuit over the perceived failure of their deal to bake ChatGPT into the iPhone. As I wrote at the time, even just that threat was clearly not going to go over well in Cupertino.

John Gruber (Mastodon):

Footnote 13 on p. 15 states:

Apple and OpenAI have a commercial relationship involving the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT into Apple Intelligence. The companies have entered into a written agreement governing that integration. That agreement is not at issue here. OpenAI’s acts of trade secret misappropriation alleged herein do not arise from and have no connection to that agreement.

Be that as it may legally speaking, in practical terms it seems untenable for that Apple Intelligence partnership to continue after this.

Jason Snell:

All that bubbling-under-the-surface tension between Apple and OpenAI is now out in the open!

M.G. Siegler:

Namely, while Apple frames OpenAI – or at least its fledgling hardware division – as “rotten to its core” (interesting terminology!), they really only have a case against two and maybe three individuals. But they also clearly believe that if this case goes to trial, they will have a case against a lot more.

[…]

The parallels to the Anthony Levandowski situation after he left Google for Uber have been drawn.

[…]

It is interesting that Apple is not suing Yu-Ting “Alyssa” Peng, who is named in the suit as a co-conspirator with Liu while she was still employed at Apple, before she also subsequently went to work at OpenAI. Is it possible she’s cooperating or has cooperated with Apple in this investigation?

[…]

Even if these allegations are found to be untrue or embellished, can he reasonably stay at OpenAI now? And perhaps that’s the real outcome Apple is looking for here, as they clearly frame him as the ringleader of the 400-plus people who have come over to OpenAI from Apple.

Hartley Charlton:

OpenAI’s ambitions to build a hardware rival to the iPhone are already running into trouble because of Apple’s trade secret lawsuit, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who argues the damage is showing up well before any court ruling.

[…]

The scale of the talent drain is a major part of why this matters to Apple. More than 400 former Apple employees now work at OpenAI, including former Apple design chief Jony Ive, and Gurman says the company poached so heavily from Apple’s iPhone product design group specifically that Apple had to rebuild parts of the team. Apple has responded with bigger retention bonuses and executives personally working to keep engineers from leaving.

Jeff Johnson:

OpenAI stole stuff? I can’t believe it! I thought they were done with stealing after they stole literally everything on the internet.

Colin Cornaby:

I’m sure there’s no problem with sending this company all your source code they pinky swear not to train on.

Steve Troughton-Smith:

I can’t believe this awful company solicited confidential information and stolen trade secrets, hiring from this other company while pretending to partner with them. ‘Rotten to the core’ indeed

😛

He’s referencing Apple doing this to Masimo. And, of course, Steve Jobs himself directed Apple to engage in illegal hiring practices.

Previously:

• OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s io
• Apple v. Optis Cellular Technology
• OpenAI to Become For-Profit Company
• OpenAI and Ive
• Masimo v. Apple
• OpenAI Is Today Unrecognizable
• Inside Apple’s Design Team
• BlueMail Antitrust Case Against Apple Dismissed
• Apple Suing Former A-series Chip Lead
• Apple/Google Hiring Lawsuit, Settled

Update (2026-07-17): See also: Dithering.

Tim Hardwick (FT, Hacker News):

Apple has reportedly sent legal letters to dozens of former Apple employees now working at OpenAI, telling them to preserve potentially relevant documents and communications as it continues to pursue its trade secret lawsuit against the AI company.

Update (2026-08-06): Hartley Charlton (PDF):

OpenAI has asked a federal judge to dismiss Apple’s lawsuit accusing the AI company of stealing trade secrets, calling the allegations “meritless.”

Previously:

• OpenAI Open Letter Responds to Apple Lawsuit

macOS 27 Golden Gate Beta 3 Release Notes:

Apple Intelligence for Home requires an iCloud+ subscription starting at 2TB.

Via Rajesh Pandey:

As part of the upgrade, the Home app uses AI to generate summaries of motion alerts from compatible HomeKit Secure Video cameras.

[…]

Apple likely requires the 2TB iCloud+ tier because HomeKit Secure Video already relies on iCloud+ storage tiers. The 2TB plan supports a larger number of cameras, and AI-generated video descriptions would add to Apple’s cloud processing costs.

That makes sense, but it seems odd because the iCloud tiers are named based on storage amounts, yet the feature isn’t tied to how much space you’re actually using. A lower iCloud plan with tons of free space doesn’t get the features, yet a nearly full 2 TB plan does. There are already restrictions where supporting more cameras requires higher plans, but that is at least quasi related to storage.

I reluctantly upgraded to a 2 TB family plan within the last year or so. We don’t store many files in iCloud, messages are set to auto-delete after a year, and I manually offload photos older than a year (except for hearted favorites). It’s hard to believe given how I remember the original 5 GB free tier once being sufficient, but staying under 200 GB became untenable without a lot of extra work. It doesn’t help that Live Photos sometimes gets inadvertently turned on, so that we’re storing all these little videos without realizing it.

Previously:

• “Don’t Let Me Go” and iCloud Storage Tiers
• Limiting iMessage’s Disk Usage
• The Missing iCloud Storage Bump

Rodrigo Ghedin (Hacker News):

That show of respect for its customers may change with iOS/macOS 27. Reports suggest that, at least in the first beta, Apple Intelligence is mandatory[…]

[…]

“So what’s the problem?”, you might ask. Apple’s AI takes up several gigabytes of storage and leaves less headroom for RAM.

Brandon Vigliarolo:

Those are small inconveniences, however, compared to my biggest gripe with Siri AI: It’s completely ruined Spotlight.

[…]

The new Siri-first interface that presumes that if you’re searching for anything but an app or file, you must want Siri to feed you a few links of Apple Intelligence’s choosing.

Getting to a web search from a Spotlight query now requires multiple taps: Type your query, tap “Show Results” (careful: hitting enter will trigger Siri to craft a response, eliminating the possibility of seeing any actual Spotlight content), tap on “Show More” next to the list of Siri-surfaced web results, scroll down until you see Search Google (or whatever engine you have set as your default), then tap that.

Apple Intelligence used to be opt-in, but now it seems that you can’t even opt out. I had previously mentioned the removal of the switch in the context of hypocrisy, but it seems there are enough issues here for it to warrant its own post. Also, I had previously written that the switch was combined with Siri, meaning that you could turn off Apple Intelligence if you turned off Siri, too. I now doubt that’s the case.

John Gruber:

I’m thinking that asking for a switch to turn of “Apple Intelligence” systemwide is like asking for a switch to turn off Spotlight.

Indeed, we can turn off Spotlight, both the indexing (except, alas, for APFS Time Machine volumes) and the UI, and I think that’s a good thing.

Previously:

• Apple Intelligence in appleOS 27
• No Siri AI in EU
• Chrome’s Huge weights.bin File
• Forcing Copilot AI
• Spotlight Indexing Running Wild
• Invasive Spotlight Indexing
• Bug Opted Users Back In to Sharing Siri Recordings