NerdNews

Apple is considering using AI models from OpenAI or Anthropic to power a more capable version of Siri. The company has struggled to deliver its promised AI updates, and this move would be a significant departure from its current approach. Apple has asked both companies to train models that can run on its Private Cloud Compute servers, and a decision is expected to be made soon.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is restructuring the company's AI efforts under a new group called Meta Superintelligence Labs, led by Alexandr Wang as chief AI officer. The move aims to build AI 'superintelligence' and includes the hiring of 11 new AI researchers from top firms.

Google announced a series of updates to bring its Gemini AI and other AI-powered tools into the classroom, including over 30 new features for educators, a version of the Gemini app for education, and expanded access to its collaborative video creation app Google Vids.

Microsoft's MAI Diagnostic Orchestrator, a powerful AI tool, can diagnose diseases four times more accurately than human doctors and at a lower cost. The system was tested on 304 case studies and achieved an accuracy of 80% compared to 20% for human doctors. It also reduced costs by 20% by selecting less expensive tests and procedures.

Mark Zuckerberg is assembling an AI 'Avengers team' to build a personalized intelligence that anticipates your needs, manages your schedule, and guides your decisions. Meta's new lab, led by top hires, aims to deliver 'superintelligence' to everyone, raising questions about control and priorities.

Tesla successfully delivered a driverless Model Y from its factory to a customer, demonstrating its robotaxi technology. The 15-mile journey included complex scenarios like merging on highways and navigating roundabouts. The vehicle was equipped with the same software used in Tesla's limited robotaxi service in Austin, Texas.

A federal proposal could block states from regulating AI for 5 years, citing concerns over a 'patchwork' of regulations stifling innovation. Critics argue this would allow AI firms to operate without oversight, while supporters like OpenAI's Sam Altman claim it's necessary to prevent over-regulation. The provision has sparked debate among lawmakers, with some Republicans opposing it due to concerns over states' rights.

Airial, an AI-powered travel tool, helps plan every detail of a trip, including flights, hotels, and transportation. Founded by former Meta engineers, it uses a combination of inference methods and LLMs to create personalized travel plans. The tool has raised $3 million in seed funding and has tens of thousands of monthly visitors.

Campfire, an AI-powered accounting startup, has raised a $35 million Series A led by Accel. The company is winning startups from NetSuite with its automated finance solutions, including reconciling payments and generating cash flow analysis.

CompTIA's report shows that job postings for people with AI skills have reached an all-time high, with 125,000 open jobs in the tech sector. However, dedicated AI professionals are not gaining much ground over average proficient prompters. The report suggests that AI skills are becoming a basic tool for digital and knowledge workers, similar to proficiency in MS Word.

Clio, a Canadian law firm management software company, has acquired vLex, a legal data intelligence platform, in a $1 billion cash-and-stock deal. The acquisition will improve Clio's AI models for lawyers and step into the practice of law itself. vLex's database of legal documents will be a valuable asset for Clio, competing with Thomson Reuters and LexisNexis.

Google has signed a deal with Commonwealth Fusion Systems to buy half the output of its first commercial power plant, expected to come online in the early 2030s. The deal marks a significant investment in fusion energy, which could provide a clean and reliable source of power for Google's data centers.

Oracle has landed a mystery customer that will add over $30 billion to its annual revenues, doubling its cloud business. The customer is expected to contribute to Oracle's revenue starting in fiscal year 2028. The company's approach to cloud is unique, with its own infrastructure in rival hyperscalers' datacenters, and its revenue from these deals is surging.

Over 1,200 Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway appliances are unpatched against a critical vulnerability (CVE-2025-5777) that allows threat actors to bypass authentication by hijacking user sessions. This flaw, known as Citrix Bleed 2, can enable attackers to steal session tokens, credentials, and other sensitive data, and bypass multi-factor authentication (MFA). Administrators are advised to deploy the latest patches from Citrix as soon as possible.

Senator Marsha Blackburn has pulled her support for an AI moratorium provision in President Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' after facing backlash from critics who argued it would give Big Tech a 'get-out-of-jail-free card'. The provision would have imposed a 5-year pause on state AI regulations, but Blackburn now says it's not acceptable and could allow tech companies to exploit kids, creators, and conservatives.

Canada has ordered Chinese CCTV vendor Hikvision to cease operations due to national security concerns. Meanwhile, Japan's SoftBank will fly broadband blimps to expand 5G coverage, and Starbucks China has been criticized for prioritizing ads over user privacy.

Apple's iOS 26 features a new design called Liquid Glass, with a translucent aesthetic and floating buttons. Other notable features include a phone app redesign, live translation, polls in group chats, and visual intelligence. The update will be available for iPhones released in 2019 or later, with the public beta releasing in July and the final version coming this fall.

Apple CarPlay Ultra offers greater integration with vehicles, allowing for multiple displays and control over climate and drive mode settings. It's currently available on Aston Martin's DBX707 and provides a more seamless experience for drivers.

Apple is reportedly working on new XR devices, including smart glasses and a Vision Air headset, planned for 2027. The devices will feature voice control, gesture recognition, and AI environmental sensing. A lighter and cheaper version of the Vision Pro is also expected in 2028.

Google has agreed to purchase 200 megawatts of carbon-free power from a nuclear fusion power plant being developed by Commonwealth Fusion Systems. This deal marks Google's first offtake agreement for fusion and demonstrates the company's confidence in the technology. However, the timeline for nuclear fusion is uncertain, and it may not be commercially viable in time to help Google meet its 2030 emissions goals.