Apple is considering a significant shift in how it operates Siri by potentially running its next-generation chatbot on Google's cloud infrastructure rather than entirely on its own Private Cloud Compute servers, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.


In yesterday's report detailing Apple's plans to turn ‌Siri‌ into a chatbot in iOS 27, Gurman said that the company is in discussions with Google about hosting the forthcoming ‌Siri‌ chatbot on Google-owned servers powered by Tensor Processing Units (TPUs), a class of custom chips designed specifically for large-scale artificial intelligence workloads. The arrangement would mark a major departure from Apple's emphasis on processing user requests either directly on-device or through its own tightly controlled Private Cloud Compute infrastructure.

In a potential policy shift for Apple, the two partners are discussing hosting the chatbot directly on Google servers running powerful chips known as TPUs, or tensor processing units. The more immediate Siri update, in contrast, will operate on Apple's own Private Cloud Compute servers, which rely on high-end Mac chips for processing.

The near-term ‌Siri‌ improvements in iOS 26.4 are still expected to run on Apple's own Private Cloud Compute servers, which the company unveiled in 2024 as a privacy-focused alternative to on-device processing. Private Cloud Compute relies on Apple-designed servers built around high-end Mac chips, and Apple has positioned the system as one where user data is processed temporarily and not retained, not even being accessible to Apple itself. Those claims have been central to Apple's public messaging around Apple Intelligence.

The more advanced ‌Siri‌ chatbot planned for the following major operating system update is expected to rely on a newer and more capable large language model developed by Google. This model is internally referred to as Apple Foundation Models version 11 and is comparable in capability to Google's latest Gemini models. Running such a model at scale may exceed the practical capacity of Apple's current Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, prompting the need to use Google's significantly larger, specialized cloud footprint and AI hardware.

The possibility of running ‌Siri‌ requests on Google servers does not necessarily mean Google would gain access to user data in a conventional sense. Apple already relies on third-party cloud providers, including Google, for parts of iCloud's infrastructure, while retaining control over encryption keys and data handling policies.
This article, "Apple's Siri Chatbot May Run on Google Servers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple has restructured its artificial intelligence strategy under software chief Craig Federighi, accelerating plans to overhaul Siri by relying on external AI models after years of internal delays and organizational friction.


According to a detailed report from The Information, Apple's approach to artificial intelligence has undergone a significant shift over the past year. Apple software chief Craig Federighi is said to be at the center of that shift, having assumed direct oversight of the company's AI organization and is now driving decisions that will shape the future of ‌Siri‌ and other Apple Intelligence features across the product lineup.

Last fall, Federighi apparently addressed a joint meeting of Apple's software and AI teams, expressing enthusiasm for closer collaboration while also signaling dissatisfaction with the company's pace of progress in artificial intelligence. Some members of Apple's foundation models team interpreted the remarks as criticism of their work.

In December, Apple moved to consolidate its AI leadership under Federighi, completing a transition that had begun earlier in the year when responsibility for ‌Siri‌ was removed from the AI group and brought under Federighi's software division. In January, Apple announced plans to use Google's Gemini AI models to power future AI upgrades, including an improved version of ‌Siri‌. In Federighi's view, integrating a third-party model would allow Apple to finally ship a revamped ‌Siri‌ later this year after controversially postponing the update in 2025.

However, the report also outlines internal concerns about the implications of placing AI under Federighi's control. People who have worked closely with him described him as highly cost-conscious and skeptical of investments with uncertain returns. This approach stands in notable contrast to rivals such as OpenAI, Meta Platforms, and Google, who invest tens of billions of dollars in data centers, chips, and AI researchers.

Apple has attempted to limit infrastructure spending by emphasizing on-device processing and its Private Cloud Compute system, which uses Apple silicon. The company was said to be waiting for the cost of AI computation and talent to decline, betting that most consumer use cases will eventually be handled locally on devices.

Federighi apparently viewed AI as unpredictable and difficult to control, preferring deterministic software behavior that could be clearly specified during design reviews. He rejected proposals to use AI to dynamically reorganize the iPhone home screen, arguing that such changes would confuse users.

Tensions over AI strategy have surfaced internally before. Around 2019, Mike Rockwell, who was leading development of the Vision Pro headset, reportedly proposed an AI-driven interface. He criticized Federighi's software approach as overly conservative, prompting a rebuke. Rockwell was later placed in charge of ‌Siri‌ in early 2025 and now reports directly to Federighi.

Despite his earlier skepticism, Federighi's stance shifted following the release of ChatGPT in late 2022. People close to him said he became convinced of the potential of large language models after experimenting with the technology and instructed his teams to explore ways to integrate similar capabilities into Apple products. Federighi reportedly concluded that Apple's internal models did not perform adequately on devices, while members of the foundation models team believed they were being blamed for challenges related to model optimization, which fell under the software organization's responsibilities.

Some team members complained they were not given sufficient guidance on how their models would ultimately be used, limiting their ability to compete with external alternatives. Around the time Apple removed ‌Siri‌ oversight from Giannandrea and assigned it to Rockwell, with Federighi directing the broader effort, Federighi instructed teams to evaluate deep integration of third-party models.

Despite the partnership with Google, Apple plans to continue developing its own AI models, particularly those designed to run on devices. Apple reportedly intends to shrink and adapt models derived from external partners so they can run more fully on Apple hardware, reducing long-term dependence. To support that goal, Apple is said to be considering acquisitions of smaller AI firms specializing in model compression and optimization.

See The Information's full report for more.
This article, "Report: Apple's New AI Strategy Firms Up Under Craig Federighi" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

The Apple supplier subject to a major cyberattack last month was China's Luxshare, it has now emerged. More than 1TB of confidential Apple information was reportedly stolen.


It was reported in December that one of Apple's assemblers suffered a significant cyberattack that may have compromised sensitive production-line information and manufacturing data linked to Apple. The specific company targeted, the scope of the breach, and its operational impact were unclear until now.

The attack was first revealed on RansomHub's dark web leak site on December 15, 2025, where the group claimed it had encrypted internal Luxshare systems and exfiltrated large volumes of confidential data belonging to the company and its customers. The attackers warned that the information would be publicly released unless Luxshare contacted them to negotiate, and accused the company of attempting to conceal the incident.

According to the attackers' claims, the exfiltrated material includes vital files such as detailed 3D CAD product models and high-precision geometric files, 2D manufacturing drawings, mechanical component designs, circuit board layouts, and internal engineering PDFs. The group added that the large archives include Apple product data as well as information belonging to Nvidia, LG, Tesla, Geely, and other major clients.

The attackers subsequently wrote that Luxshare management had been given time to respond but had failed to do so, and that the stolen archives contained confidential project documentation protected under non-disclosure agreements. The post was accompanied by data samples that the group said were provided as proof of compromise.

Cybernews reported that its research team reviewed portions of the leaked sample data attached to the post and found what appeared to be legitimate internal Luxshare documentation tied to Apple projects. The materials explain confidential repair procedures and logistics workflows between Apple and Luxshare, including detailed process descriptions, timelines, and partner coordination documents.

Files commonly used in product design and manufacturing workflows, such as .dwg and Gerber files, were present in the samples reviewed. The projects referenced in the samples span a period from 2019 through to 2025. As such, it seems likely that unreleased products may be included. The researchers also said the sample data appears to include personally identifiable information of individuals involved in Apple projects, such as full names, job titles, and work email addresses.

Access to detailed engineering designs and manufacturing documentation could pose risks if they are misused, such as product reverse engineering, counterfeit manufacturing, and targeted attacks on hardware or firmware facilitated by detailed knowledge of device layouts and component interactions. Exposure of employee contact information and internal workflows could also increase the risk of targeted phishing or follow-on intrusions against Apple's other partners. Neither Apple nor Luxshare have confirmed the cyberattack.
This article, "Apple's Secret Product Plans Stolen in Luxshare Cyberattack" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple's iPhone 18 will feature a significantly brighter display, according to a Chinese leaker.


In a new post on Weibo, the user known as "Instant Digital" said that Chinese supplier BOE has little hope of making panels for the ‌iPhone 18‌ because Apple's brightness requirements for the next-generation device are unprecedentedly high. This suggests that the ‌iPhone 18‌'s display will see a considerable leap forward in terms of brightness.

The iPhone 13 and ‌iPhone‌ 14 offered a typical maximum brightness of 800 nits, with peak HDR brightness of 1,200 nits. With the ‌iPhone‌ 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 17 Apple increased this to 1,000 nits typical maximum brightness and 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness. The ‌iPhone 17‌ also saw a notable increase from 2,000 nits of outdoor peak brightness to 3,000 nits.

Earlier today, Korea's The Elec reported that BOE is again struggling with ‌iPhone‌ OLED production, causing millions of panel orders to be shifted to Samsung Display.

The ‌iPhone 18‌ is expected to launch in early 2027, featuring the A20 chip, the C2 modem, and a simpler Camera Control.
This article, "iPhone 18 Rumored to Feature Much Brighter Display" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple is planning to debut a high-end secondary version of AirPods Pro 3 this year, sitting in the lineup alongside the current model, reports suggest.


Back in September 2025, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple is planning to introduce a successor to the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ in 2026. This would be somewhat unusual since Apple normally waits around three years to make major changes to the AirPods' hardware. AirPods Pro 2 debuted at the iPhone 14 event in September 2022, and they were updated with a USB-C charging case and a few other tweaks in September 2023. Otherwise, Apple has waited about three years to update all of its AirPods models.

Kuo said that the 2026 AirPods Pro will feature a "more significant" hardware upgrade in the form at least one tiny infrared camera. He previously said AirPods with infrared cameras could recognize hand gestures and provide an enhanced spatial audio experience with Apple's Vision Pro headset.

The Chinese leaker known as "Instant Digital" subsequently corroborated the rumor with some additional details and clarifications. Rather than being a new generation, the 2026 AirPods Pro will apparently be a pricier, high-end variant of the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ introduced in 2025, suggesting that both models will ultimately be on sale alongside each other. It is worth noting that Apple offers two version of the AirPods 4 at $129 and $179 price points, so this is a highly plausible move.

The current AirPods lineup has offerings priced at $129, $179, $249, and $549. An additional product between the $249 ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ and $549 AirPods Max seems possible, especially given the rise of higher end Bluetooth earbuds from the likes of Bang Olufsen, Bowers & Wilkins, and Bose.

As Kuo first said, Instant Digital similarly believes that the key differentiator will be an infrared camera for gesture controls. In fact, Apple may remove the high-end model's pressure-sensors and go all-in on gesture controls.

The H3 chip is also a possibility. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next-generation audio chip is in development. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ launched last year stuck with the same H2 chip from their predecessor released in 2022.

Launch timing is currently unclear, but Apple typically announces new AirPods in the second half of the year. The original AirPods, AirPods Pro 2 and their subsequent USB-C revision, ‌AirPods 4‌, and ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ were all announced at Apple's annual ‌iPhone‌ event in September.
This article, "New, Higher End AirPods Pro Coming This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums

Apple reclaimed the leading position in China's smartphone market in the fourth quarter of 2025 as strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup offset a contracting market and growing supply-chain pressure from memory chip shortages.


New data from Counterpoint Research shows that smartphone shipments in China declined 1.6% year over year in the fourth quarter of 2025 and fell 0.6% for the full year, reflecting weaker consumer demand driven primarily by rising prices linked to escalating memory costs. Within that environment, Apple's performance diverged sharply from the market as a whole. Counterpoint said Apple's shipments in China rose 28% year over year during the holiday quarter, allowing the company to rank first in the market with a 22% share in the fourth quarter.

The improvement marks a notable reversal from earlier in 2025, when Apple trailed domestic competitors in China. According to Counterpoint, the change was driven by strong demand for the ‌iPhone 17‌ lineup, which accounted for roughly 20% of Apple's shipments in China during the quarter. The firm noted demand was particularly concentrated among the Pro models. Counterpoint added that Apple benefited from an accelerated supply ramp up late in the year, enabling it to meet holiday demand more effectively than some rivals that were constrained by component availability.

The notable exception within Apple's lineup was the iPhone Air. Counterpoint said the model captured only a low single-digit share of Apple's China shipments following its debut. This is attributed to a slower start due to the device's later launch compared with other regions and to perceived trade-offs between its ultra-thin design and overall feature set.

For the full year, Apple did not lead the Chinese market, but it narrowed the gap with domestic competitors. Counterpoint said Huawei ranked first in China for 2025 with a 16.4% market share, followed closely by Apple and vivo at around 16% each. Xiaomi and Oppo trailed slightly behind at roughly 15% each.

According to IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker, global smartphone shipments reached 1.26 billion units in 2025, up 1.9% year over year. Globally, Apple remained the largest smartphone vendor in 2025, shipping 247.8 million iPhones for a 19.7% market share. Apple's shipments grew 6.3% year over year. Samsung ranked second with 241.2 million units shipped and a 19.1% share, while Xiaomi placed third with 165.3 million units and a 13.1% share, despite a year-over-year decline.
This article, "Apple Regains Top Spot in China's Smartphone Market" first appeared on MacRumors.com

Discuss this article in our forums