Welcome back! 🍎
Here’s the latest with Apple.

• Siri might never be the same again.

• Apple’s roadmap for its “Vision” products

• & more!

📊 Poll

Last week, we asked: Do you use AI apps on your iPhone?

Here were my favorite replies:

This week: Would you buy a lighter and cheaper version of the Vision Pro? Why or why not? More on this later.

🗞️ The Latest

🍏 The End of Siri?

We’ve been hearing for years that Apple would finally improve Siri - only to be let down again and again. Now, even Apple seems to realize it’s at a point where it might need to make a tough call. Here’s the latest.

• Apple is in talks with OpenAI and Anthropic to potentially power a revamped Siri with third-party AI models.

• This would mark a major strategic shift, acknowledging that Apple’s in-house models may not be up to par.

• Apple has asked for custom versions of Claude and ChatGPT to run on its Private Cloud Compute servers.

• This would help Apple maintain its strong privacy stance while outsourcing the AI brainpower.

• Anthropic’s AI is currently the frontrunner, and Apple has already discussed a potential multibillion-dollar per year deal.

• That steep price tag is why Apple is still keeping OpenAI and other options in play.

• A new LLM-powered Siri is still in development for iOS 27, while the Apple Intelligence Siri features remain delayed to iOS 26.4 next year.

• In the meantime, Apple plans to lean on partnerships to keep up with AI expectations. This explains the report of Apple potentially acquiring Perplexity soon.

• The shift has caused internal tensions, as Apple’s AI team fears the move signals broader abandonment of in-house efforts. Key engineers have already left, including top LLM researcher Tom Gunter.

My take: Well, this was not on my bingo card. Instead of Apple sticking to its in-house models for the “ChatGPT-like Siri,” they’re looking to outsource it to speed things up.

Does this mean Apple is giving up on its own models? Of course not. I see this as a stop-gap solution while Apple continues to polish its foundation models. They’re giving us something, instead of nothing at all.

I’m not worried about privacy since Apple would route the third-party AI services through its own PCC servers, just like it currently does with the ChatGPT integration.

So at the end of the day, I think this is a solid move for Apple. This would instantly give users the feeling that Siri is far better than it’s ever been - even if it’s not actually Siri doing any of the work. All while Apple continues to make its models as good, fast, and accurate as possible before shipping.

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👓 Apple's Secret Vision Roadmap

Apple has seven AR/VR products in the works, including three Vision headsets and four smart glasses models. Here’s the latest on Apple’s roadmap.

2025

• Apple plans to launch a refreshed Vision Pro with an M5 chip this year. This will only be a refresh, not a true “second generation” model.

• Mass production is scheduled for the third quarter of 2025 and Apple is expecting to ship 150,000–200,000 units this year.

2027

• Apple plans to debut the Apple Smart Glasses in 2027. 

• These will be similar to the Meta Ray-Bans: no display, but will include audio playback, photo/video capabilities, gesture control, and AI-powered environmental awareness.

• Just like Meta, Apple will offer multiple frame and temple material options.

• These smart glasses could replace AirPods or the iPhone camera in certain situations.

• The glasses will be more of a lifestyle product, so Apple is expecting big sales volume: 3-5M units in the launch year.

• Also in 2027, we’re expecting to see the Vision Air.

• This will feature an all-new form factor, be over 40% lighter than the original Vision Pro, and use an iPhone chip instead of an M-series chip, all while coming in at a significantly lower price.

2028

• 2028 is when the “real” second-generation Apple Vision Pro will debut with a completely new design, lighter build, a cheaper price, and a Mac-grade processor.

• Mass production is projected to begin in the second half of 2028.

• Also in 2028, Apple will launch its first pair of XR Glasses!

• These will differ from the Ray-Ban-like glasses because they will have a color Liquid Crystal on Silicon (LCoS) display with waveguide optics.

• The XR glasses will include voice and gesture control, but they’ll rely heavily on AI features.

• Mass production is projected for the second half of 2028.

2029 and Later

• An upgraded version of the XR glasses are expected in 2029, but little is known about this device for now.

• Apple has also paused work on a display accessory that tethers to iPhones and Macs. It features display technology from Birdbath optics with electrochromic dimming as an additional key selling point.

• The device was originally scheduled to enter mass production in 2026, but development was paused in 2024 due to lack of competitive edge, specifically related to weight.

• The project is currently under review for “repositioning and specification refinement” and could be restarted at a later, unspecified date.

My take: Apple clearly sees head-mounted devices as the next major trend and AI will play a massive role, especially for the glasses with no screen.

The good news for Apple is they’ve got the hardware and ecosystem advantage. But just like with Siri, the real challenge will be making AI features that actually feel useful and don’t come years after competitors.

We’ll see this play out more as other brands jump in and try to grab early attention in this space. Kuo expects “several” brands to release similar products, so it’ll be fun to watch!

📰 Quick Bites

• Apple Planning to Launch Low-Cost MacBook Powered By iPhone Chip

• Apple's 'F1: The Movie' roars to top of US, Canada box office

• Apple Planning to Change iPhone 17 Pro's Logo Placement

• Anker Recalls Multiple Power Banks Due to Fire Risk

• Proton Sues Apple Over 'Artificial and Arbitrary' App Store Fees

• Apple Accuses Former Employee of Stealing Vision Pro Secrets

• Beats and AirPods Headphones Shut Off When You Fall Asleep in iOS 26

• Apple Pauses Work on Foldable iPad

• Injured mountain climber rescued by using Apple satellite texting

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