Tag: Siri AI

  • Apple uses Siri AI as anti-EU tool to push DMA exemption

    Apple uses Siri AI as anti-EU tool to push DMA exemption

    Key Takeaway

    – Apple introduced iOS 27 with new AI features led by Siri AI, which can access screen content, apps, and the iPhone camera.
    – In the EU, Siri AI is not available on iPhone or iPad due to the Digital Markets Act, only on Mac, Apple Watch, and Apple TV.
    – Apple claims the EU refused to cooperate on security/privacy, while the EU says Apple chose not to offer the feature.
    – Apple applied for an 18-month exemption that was rejected, and is reportedly working on an EU-compliant solution behind the scenes.

    Apple’s newest iOS 27 update hits iPhones hard

    On Monday, Apple has revealed iOS 27, the next major operating system update for smartphones such as the iPhone 17. In addition to performance optimizations and minor design adjustments, the update primarily introduces new AI features, led by Siri AI. Apple’s new chatbot is strongly reminiscent of products such as ChatGPT, including its own app, whereby Siri AI can also access the screen content, installed apps and the iPhone’s camera.

    Siri AI blocked in Europe for iPhones

    In the EU, however, Siri AI is only available at launch on the Mac, the Apple Watch and on Apple TV, but not on the iPhone or iPad, the platforms that the EU considers to be “gatekeepers” due to their large market share. According to Apple, the EU refused to work constructively with the iPhone manufacturer to find a way to offer Siri AI in the EU without compromising the security and privacy of users. Reuters now quotes a spokesperson for the European Commission as saying that it would be solely Apple’s decision not to offer Siri AI in the EU.

    Apple blames Brussels for the AI gap

    Instead of finding a viable solution that meets the requirements of the Digital Markets Act, Apple would have simply applied for an exemption valid for at least 18 months, which the Commission unsurprisingly rejected. The fact that Apple is choosing to incite customers against the EU’s policy and spread propaganda instead of developing a compliant solution is a strategy that the company has been pursuing for a long time, probably in the hope of influencing EU antitrust law. Behind the scenes, however, an EU-compliant solution is clearly already in the works, because as the screenshot embedded below shows, the Siri app can already integrate third-party chatbots.

     

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  • Apple unveils watchOS 27, drops support for 4 older Watch models

    Key Takeaway

    – watchOS 27 requires Apple Watch Series 10, Ultra 2, or SE 3; Series 9 and older are excluded.
    – Siri AI based on Google Gemini can operate apps (e.g., route planning, adding photos).
    – AI predicts app selection for a smaller, smarter app list.
    – New features: revised Liquid Glass design, enhanced Workout Buddy, thumb-index finger tap gesture, Wallet QR codes, faster Music app.

    New Operating System Update Revealed at WWDC

    At WWDC today, Apple not only announced iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate, but also watchOS 27. While the smartwatch operating system was only mentioned in a few words at the press conference, Apple’s website shows what new features the Apple Watch will receive in the fall – and reveals a disappointment for users of slightly older Apple Watches.

    Disapointing Compatibility News for Owners

    While watchOS 26 could still be installed on all models back to the Apple Watch Series 6, watchOS 27 requires at least an Apple Watch Series 10, an Apple Watch Ultra 2 or an Apple Watch SE 3. Even the just two and a half year old Apple Watch Series 9 will be left behind and will probably not receive any further feature updates. Anyone using a current model such as the Apple Watch Series 11 will mainly receive new AI features with the update.

    Siri Gets a Major Upgrade With AI Integration

    Apple is bringing Siri AI and the Siri app to the Apple Watch. This app is very reminiscent of standard AI chatbots like ChatGPT, and this is no coincidence, as the app is based on Google Gemini. Siri can also operate apps and, for example, plan a route in Apple Maps or add a photo to an album.

    Minor Innovations and Design Tweaks

    Apart from that, watchOS 27 only brings minor innovations. The app selection can use AI to guess which app is likely to be selected and thus display a smaller selection. The “Liquid Glass” design has been slightly revised. The Workout Buddy gets more motivational sayings based on additional data. A new tap gesture with thumb and index finger can open a widget, the Wallet app can display QR codes of any tickets and membership cards, and the music app starts faster.


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  • Apple unveils macOS 27 Golden Gate with AI-packed MacBook features

    Apple unveils macOS 27 Golden Gate with AI-packed MacBook features

    Key Takeaway

    – “Liquid Glass” design overhaul with adjustable transparency, new sidebar, colorful icons, and up to 30% faster app startup.
    – Siri AI chatbot replaces standard Siri, offering natural language answers, screen access, and app control.
    – AI-powered Safari can generate custom browser extensions from user prompts.
    – System-wide AI Writing Tools and Image Playground for generating/editing text and images.
    – Photo AI features include expanding images (AI-generated zoom-out) and “Spatial Reframing” to change perspective.

    Major macOS 27 Update Unveiled

    With macOS 27, Apple today unveiled the next major operating system update for the Mac. The system receives many of the new features that are also coming to the iPhone with iOS 27, starting with an optimized “Liquid Glass” design that allows users to adjust how transparent the “glass” actually looks in the system settings.

    Visual and Performance Tweeks

    The sidebar on macOS now has a sloping edge, app icons are more colorful and the corner radius of windows has been standardized. Thanks to these adjustments and improved app icons, Liquid Glass should look better than ever and apps should start up to 30 percent faster by preloading parts of the code into the RAM. AirDrop can transfer data up to 80 percent faster after the update.

    AI Highlights and Siri Replacement

    In addition to the performance and design optimizations, the new AI features are the highlight of macOS 27 Golden Gate. The biggest innovation is Siri AI, Apple’s brand new AI chatbot, which replaces Siri as the voice assistant. Siri can either be used in the new Siri app or accessed directly via Spotlight.

    Siri AI gives answers in natural language, similar to ChatGPT. A special feature is that Siri AI can access the screen and open apps so that, for example, questions about a text or image can be answered on the screen or apps can be controlled. Apple Intelligence also receives innovations in other areas of the operating system

    Home, Safari, and Writing Tools

    For example, the Home app can now recognize objects via HomeKit cameras so that users can be notified when a package is delivered. Apple’s Safari web browser in macOS 27 can not only group tabs using AI, but can even generate browser extensions based on a prompt, for example to be notified when a new article is published.

    Apple’s Writing Tools are now available system-wide to generate or rewrite texts. Image Playground can now generate images using artificial intelligence, either in a realistic style or based on a photo. Generated images can be further edited using prompts.

    New Photo Editing Capabilities

    Apple also introduces numerous AI features for editing captured photos. Photos can be expanded in macOS 27 and iOS 27 so that they can be “zoomed out”, so to speak, and the missing pixels are generated. A feature called “Spatial Reframing” can subsequently change the perspective of a photo, ultimately generating a completely new image.


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  • Apple iOS 27: Faster iPhones, Liquid Glass & Siri Upgrade

    Apple iOS 27: Faster iPhones, Liquid Glass & Siri Upgrade

    Key Takeaway

    – iOS 27 supports all iPhones from iPhone 11 to iPhone 17, with a revised CPU scheduler improving fluidity on older models.
    – Apps launch up to 30% faster due to RAM preloading, AirDrop is 80% faster, and iCloud photo uploads are accelerated.
    – New AI features include “Siri AI” with conversational ability, screen and app access, and a dedicated app for reviewing chats.
    – Enhanced parental controls allow blocking apps/websites/contacts and automatic blocking of violent content in Messages.
    – The camera app adds panoramic depth data for 3D viewing on Apple Vision Pro and a “Siri mode” for AI interactions.

    Together with macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple also unveiled iOS 27 today. The next major operating system update for Apple’s smartphones will be released for every iPhone that also runs iOS 26, meanin that the operating system is compatible with all models from the iPhone 11 to the iPhone 17. Older smartphones should benefit particularly strongly from the new operating system, as Apple has revised the CPU scheduler, which should make the system feel more fluid.

    Performance and Speed Upgrades

    As important app data is preloaded into the RAM, apps should start up to 30 percent faster – and this also applies to third-party apps. AirDrop file transfers should be completed 80 percent faster, and uploading photos to iCloud should also be faster than ever before. Apple revises the “Liquid Glass” design introduced last year, and not only introduces revised app icons and extra-large home screen widgets, but above all a setting that allows users to choose how transparent Apple’s “glass” actually is.

    Revamped Search and Camera Tools

    The system-wide Spotlight search is designed to index the content of various file types more reliably and find this data more quickly. The camera app has been given the option to record panoramas with depth data so that they can be viewed in 3D with Apple Vision Pro. Another new feature is the ability to adjust the sound of AirPods to your own preferences using an equalizer.

    Parental Controls and Safety

    Improved parental control options make it possible to set which apps, websites and contacts children are allowed to use. If the child wants to use a new app or website, a parent can be asked for permission at the touch of a button. Violent photos or videos should be automatically blocked in Apple Messages.

    Advancements in Apple Intelligence

    As befits tech giants in 2027, Apple has also announced new AI features. Apple Intelligence will offer more features than ever before in iOS 27 and will be able to access both the screen content and the features of the currently open app to simplify interactions. Apple combines an improved Large Language Model that runs locally on the iPhone with Google Gemini, but still wants to protect users’ data.

    Introducing Siri AI

    The highlight of these new AI features is “Siri AI”, a fundamentally revised version of the voice assistant. Siri AI is more reminiscent of ChatGPT than older versions of Siri, as the assistant can hold conversations and has its own app in which previous conversations can be read up on. As Siri can access the screen content and apps, it can, for example, ask questions about a website or an open photo or enter a route in Google Maps. The camera app gets a “Siri mode” to use these features through the iPhone’s camera. Siri also has a much more natural voice on newer iPhones.


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