🤝 Apple may team up with Google to fix Siri

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Greetings! Your latest quick tech update is here:

☀️ On this day: On August 23, 1991, the World Wide Web became publicly accessible for the first time. Although the web's official launch occurred earlier that month, August 23 is popularly celebrated as "Internaut Day"—honoring the moment when users outside CERN could freely access the web. Created by Tim Berners-Lee, the web introduced concepts like URLs, HTML, and HTTP, forever transforming how information is shared and accessed globally.

What’s happening:

• 🧠 Apple may use Google Gemini to power new Siri

• 🤝 Musk asked Zuckerberg to back the $97B OpenAI bid

• 🎨 Meta teams with Midjourney to boost creative AI tools

• 🚨 Coinbase fires engineers who resisted AI tools

• 📈 Apple TV+ hikes price by 30%, sparks backlash

• + 📊 Daily poll and results

• + 📈 Trending tools and resources

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Hand-picked news:

🧠 Apple may use Google Gemini to power new Siri ↗️LINK

• What: Apple is reportedly in talks with Google to use its Gemini AI model for a new version of Siri. Apple is testing two versions of Siri: one using its own models ("Linwood") and another using external AI like Gemini ("Glenwood").

• Why: Apple has struggled to deliver on its "Apple Intelligence" promises. Delays in launching an upgraded Siri have forced the company to consider outside help to stay competitive in the AI race.

• Impact: If finalized, the partnership would mark a major shift for Apple and reflect the growing influence of third-party AI in core features. It may also raise concerns over data control—even if run on Apple’s own secure servers.

🤝 Musk asked Zuckerberg to back $97B OpenAI bid ↗️LINK

• What: Elon Musk approached Mark Zuckerberg to help finance a $97.4B unsolicited takeover bid for OpenAI, according to court filings. OpenAI said this undermines Musk’s claim that its Microsoft partnership strayed from its nonprofit mission. Meta insists it wasn’t part of the bid and is resisting OpenAI’s demand for related documents.

• Why: Musk, who co-founded OpenAI but later launched xAI, wanted control of OpenAI as it explored shifting to a for-profit model. The move was seen as a way to counter rivals and influence AGI development.

• Impact: The clash highlights tensions between Musk and OpenAI, raising legal stakes over its governance and future structure, while pulling Meta into the dispute despite its refusal to join the bid.

🎨 Meta teams with Midjourney to boost creative AI tools ↗️LINK

• What: Meta has partnered with Midjourney to license its AI image and video generation tech. The deal allows Meta’s research teams to integrate Midjourney's models into future products, potentially enhancing tools like Imagine and Movie Gen.

• Why: Meta aims to compete with leaders like OpenAI’s Sora and Google’s Veo by collaborating with top AI labs. It’s part of a broader AI push that includes a $14B investment in Scale AI and big talent acquisitions.

• Impact: The move strengthens Meta’s creative AI offerings and underscores rising competition in generative media, though ongoing copyright lawsuits could shape future model development.

🚨 Coinbase fires engineers who resisted AI tools ↗️LINK

• What: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong admitted he fired engineers who refused to adopt AI tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor, after mandating company-wide use. Employees had one week to onboard the tech, with noncompliance leading to termination.

• Why: Armstrong wants 50% of Coinbase’s code written by AI this quarter, surpassing Microsoft and Google’s benchmarks. He says strict enforcement ensures faster adoption and higher productivity.

• Impact: The move highlights a growing trend of AI mandates at major firms like Duolingo, Microsoft, and Yahoo Japan. But studies show AI can sometimes slow developers, raising doubts about whether forced adoption truly boosts efficiency.

📈 Apple TV+ hikes price by 30%, sparks backlash ↗️LINK

• What: Apple TV+ has raised its monthly subscription fee from $9.99 to $12.99 in the US, a 30% increase. The change is immediate for new users and will hit current subscribers within 30 days of their next billing cycle.

• Why: Apple hasn’t given a reason, but the move comes amid rising content costs and the push to fund high-profile shows like Severance season 3 and Pluribus by Breaking Bad’s creator.

• Impact: Many subscribers are canceling in response, raising concerns about Apple TV+’s future. With competitors offering cheaper, ad-supported options, Apple may be forced to rethink its pricing strategy.

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Today’s Poll:

Vote and find out about the result tomorrow.

Yesterday’s Poll Result:

Do you think AI that mimics consciousness is dangerous?

• A) Yes – It risks societal confusion and emotional manipulation - 68 🏆

• B) No – It's just a tool, and people can adapt - 32%

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