Despite stepping down as Apple CEO, Tim Cook has kept the responsibility of engaging with governments as part of his new executive chairman title. Bloomberg reports Cook, along with OpenAI's Sam Altman, will attend a White House state dinner honoring Chinese President Xi Jinping amid tense US-China relations over AI, trade and geopolitics.
Apple is reportedly building custom AI servers around future M8 Ultra chips, planned in two- and four-chip configurations, and is evaluating Nvidia's NVLink Fusion for high-speed interconnects between them. The project, said to have started roughly a year ago under former hardware chief John Ternus, aims to replace Apple's existing in-house connectivity tech, which is reportedly too slow and expensive for large-scale deployment.
Reported battery capacity figures for Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro suggest only incremental improvements over the current lineup, according to leaks circulating ahead of launch. The numbers imply Apple still trails some rivals, including Samsung, on long-term battery durability and capacity growth.
Apple is reportedly exploring an AI inference server using future M8 Ultra chips, in configurations of two or four chips, and is debating whether to use Nvidia's NVLink Fusion to link them instead of its own interconnect methods. Any product wouldn't ship before 2029 and could be canceled. The plan follows rising demand from AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic, which have bought or rented large numbers of Mac mini and Mac Studio units for reinforcement-learning workloads.
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces the ability to shrink or expand the clock on the iPhone lock screen, building on previous features like removable controls and movable widgets. Users can now toggle between a compact clock near the top and an enlarged version that takes up roughly a third of the screen, adjustable through the Wallpaper settings menu.
Apple's new Series 12 and Ultra 4 look identical to prior models but pack a new S11 chip with a secure microphone-processing exclave and a redesigned health sensor array for more frequent, accurate, and efficient readings. Larger EKG electrodes and upgraded photodiodes ship now, while several AI-driven health features remain unavailable until later this year.
Apple's iOS 27 rollout is causing some iPhone users to see faster-than-normal battery drain in the days following installation. The company attributes this to background processes like search-index rebuilding, app refreshes, and data prep for Siri and AI features, which typically resolve within one to three days. Users with large photo libraries or heavy AI usage may see the effect last longer.
Apple has pushed out the first release candidates for macOS Tahoe 26.7.1 (build 25G309) and macOS Sequoia 15.8.1 (build 24H208), just days after releasing macOS Tahoe 26.7 and Sequoia 15.8. Both updates are described only as containing important security fixes recommended for all users, with no other changes noted in the release notes.
Photographer Tyler Stalman published his annual iPhone camera review, focusing on the iPhone 18 Pro's new variable aperture system, updated Cinematic mode, expanded Photographic Styles, and Apple Reference Image. He found the f/1.48 wide aperture lets in more light, lowering ISO needs and reducing reliance on Night mode, and noted Apple's unusual placement of the aperture blades above the main lens element.
GM unveiled new dashboard software for its next-generation gas-powered pickups, the 2027 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, featuring a redesigned home screen, tighter Super Cruise integration, and improved compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The upgrade applies only to combustion models, continuing GM's separate strategy for its EV lineup, which dropped phone-mirroring support in 2023 in favor of Google Built-In software.
Apple is reportedly building an enterprise AI server powered by future M8 Ultra chips, expected to launch in 2029 in configurations with two or four chips, according to The Information. The project reportedly began about a year ago with backing from John Ternus, now Apple's CEO, when he still led hardware engineering. This would be Apple's first server product in roughly twenty years.
Federal Judge Mark Pittman is demanding X and SpaceX's AI unit turn over any agreement that led them to voluntarily drop antitrust claims against Apple, while continuing their suit against OpenAI. The original lawsuit alleged Apple and OpenAI colluded to suppress rival AI apps on the App Store after agreeing to integrate ChatGPT into Siri. OpenAI filed an emergency motion pushing for disclosure of the settlement terms, and Pittman has given the companies until noon on September 17 to respond.