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Notes from this week’s newsletter
This time of year is usually quiet. WWDC has come and gone with Apple showing off the next generation of its operating systems and we’re still a couple of months away from the next iPhone, a new swag of Apple Watch models and, most likely, updated iPad models later in the year.
But one thing that hasn’t stopped is the constant murmuring, and sometimes outright rage, about Apple’s efforts with Artificial Intelligence. Let’s face it, Apple Intelligence has failed to deliver with almost everyone agreeing that Apple has been left in the dust. Open AI, Google, Meta and others have delivered AI-based services that have captured a strong early market advantage.
Sure, there are some concerns with those tools around privacy, the use of intellectual property and the impact on human intelligence. So, on one hand, Apple’s slow approach seems sensible. But Apple talked up a big game at WWDC 24 that seems to have been a bit of a smoke and mirrors effort.
All of that brings us to this week. With no real news happening, the world has turned to rumours and leaks. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg led the way with a report that Apple had internal discussions about buying AI start up Perplexity. I’d be surprised if Apple had not held internal discussions about acquiring every major and emerging AI platform.
Perplexity, responding to the initial report and ad nauseum re-reports noted that Apple had not spoken to them suggesting that the internal discussion may have been nothing more than a thought bubble in a meeting.
Apple has released the second beta versions of its new operating systems to developers and has righted what many saw as a great travesty. The colours of the Finder icon have been restored after being reversed in the first developer beta of macOS 26 Tahoe.
And, if you’re in Perth, an all new Apple Store opened, replacing the company’s previous presence over in the west.
Anthony is the founder of Australian Apple News. He is a long-time Apple user and former editor of Australian Macworld. He has contributed to many technology magazines and newspapers as well as appearing regularly on radio and occasionally on TV.