Apptopia data shows Meta's new AI app Muse recorded 1.8 million iOS downloads in the U.S. and Canada during its first 12 days, versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT in the same window after its 2022 debut. Muse also topped ChatGPT in daily active users at a comparable stage, with 642,000 U.S. daily users versus ChatGPT's 231,000, and has climbed to the No. 1 spot on the U.S. App Store.
Meta's newly launched Muse personal AI agent app has climbed past ChatGPT, Claude, Grok and Meta's own AI app to lead the free app category on Apple's US iOS store. Sensor Tower data shows Muse pulled in roughly 730,000 downloads in its first five days after launching September 8, outperforming rival assistants in the same post-launch period. The app lets users direct AI agents to handle tasks like filling out forms and managing email, built on Meta's Muse Spark model family.
President Trump said he will soon name an AI tsar and establish an 'AI Force,' framing artificial intelligence as a transformative economic force that could account for up to a quarter of US GDP. He dismissed growing warnings from industry figures about losing control over the technology, along with backlash over data centers, calling them politically motivated 'hoaxes' rather than legitimate concerns requiring regulation.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to unveil a new AI-powered home hub device—nicknamed 'HomePad'—as soon as next month. The gadget will run a custom operating system blending elements of iOS, tvOS and watchOS, built around Siri, and will come in tabletop or wall-mounted versions with a square touchscreen.
Google's new Android-based Googlebook laptops are now available for preorder from multiple OEM partners, ahead of an October 4 launch. Five models will debut, priced starting at $899 with only one under $1,000, featuring OLED displays, metal chassis, large haptic trackpads, and an illuminated 'Glowbar' on the lid. The machines run either Snapdragon X Elite or Intel Core Ultra Series 3 chips with NPUs delivering up to 45 TOPS.
A software utility lets users replace their browser's default new tab page with a personalized dashboard for organizing bookmarks and frequently visited sites. The tool works across most major browsers, not just Chrome, giving users a consistent launchpad experience regardless of which browser they use.
Apple's newest iPhone and Apple Watch models are now available for purchase in physical and online stores. A tech columnist evaluated the new devices primarily by comparing them against previous generations already owned by many consumers.
New Apple CEO John Ternus greeted customers in person at Apple's Fifth Avenue store in New York as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max went on sale, taking selfies and signing boxes for fans who had preordered the devices. It marked his first public product launch appearance since succeeding Tim Cook, continuing Apple's tradition of CEO-attended store openings.
Maria Cabral Menezes, a 27-year-old former JPMorgan and Citadel trader, left finance to launch Reset Spray, a $29 product she describes as 'dry shampoo for clothes' that lets people refresh lightly worn garments between washes. The spray, which debuted in early August, generated $10,000 in sales in under a day and a half.
Vectra AI has launched Ascent, a global partner program uniting solution providers, MSSPs, systems integrators, distributors, cloud partners, and technology allies. The initiative aims to help organizations gain visibility into AI activity across their networks and strengthen defenses against attacks that exploit identities, credentials, and cloud tools at machine speed.
A wave of recent AI model and tool launches has delivered capabilities far beyond what existed just months ago, yet public reaction has grown more negative rather than more welcoming. Critics point to concerns over environmental costs, erosion of creativity and critical thinking, and fears that advanced AI systems could act in ways harmful to humanity. Media coverage is increasingly framing these issues around specific companies or figures the public can hold accountable.
A reader survey conducted by Android Authority found that camera quality and clean software topped the list of priorities for people buying new phones, ahead of performance and reliability. Ecosystem lock-in and customization options, features brands frequently tout, ranked far lower among respondents' concerns.