Trump Seeks to Block State AI Regulations, Faces Repeated Rejections from States and Congress

In short: The Trump administration is waging a multi-front campaign to prevent states from regulating AI, using a DOJ litigation task force, Commerce Department evaluations of “burdensome” state laws, and a legislative framework urging Congress to preempt state-level regulation with a “minimally burdensome national standard.” But states have accelerated in the opposite direction – 1,208 […]

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Apple Hints at Revamped Siri Design Coming with iOS 27

### Apple’s Siri Overhaul in iOS 27: A New Chapter for Voice Assistance

Apple is prepared to reveal major transformations to its voice assistant, Siri, with the forthcoming iOS 27 update. As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the overhaul seeks to improve user engagement and refresh the design, making it more akin to modern AI chatbots.

#### Visual Overhaul

The revamped Siri interface is set to showcase a new aesthetic inspired by the visuals for Apple’s WWDC26. This design features a luminous effect that stands out particularly well in dark mode, boosting visibility and user interaction. Upon activation, Siri will emerge from the Dynamic Island—a pill-shaped element located at the top of the iPhone display—expanding to reveal a prompt that says “Search or Ask,” paired with a glowing cursor.

This visual transformation represents the second redesign of Siri since the debut of large language models (LLMs), following a previous version that included a rainbow lighting effect. The latest redesign is expected to deliver a more unified and visually attractive experience.

#### Improved Functionality

In addition to the visual enhancements, the new Siri will launch a variety of features aimed at refining user interaction. Users can engage in continuous dialogues, issue multiple requests within a single statement, and gain from enhanced personal context and screen awareness. This progression is driven by new foundational models employing Google Gemini technology, which is set to significantly boost Siri’s capabilities.

Moreover, a separate Siri app will be introduced, facilitating easy access to past conversations. The integration of search functionalities between Siri and Spotlight is also anticipated, simplifying the overall user experience.

#### Expected Launch

Apple is likely to present the new Siri at its annual WWDC conference, planned for June 8. This update is projected to be one of the standout features of iOS 27, showcasing Apple’s dedication to improving its voice assistant’s capabilities and user experience.

In conclusion, the impending redesign of Siri in iOS 27 signifies a substantial advancement for Apple’s voice assistant, offering a more interactive, functional, and visually engaging experience for users.

Google Engages Marvell for Custom AI Inference Chips in Move Away from Broadcom

Summary: Google is in talks with Marvell Technology to develop two new AI chips – a memory processing unit and an inference-optimised TPU – adding a third design partner alongside Broadcom and MediaTek in its custom silicon supply chain. The discussions, which have not yet produced a signed contract, came days after Broadcom locked in […]

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“The Stars My Destination: A Classic of Proto-Cyberpunk”

This might feel like a somewhat obvious recommendation to some, but it flew under my radar until now. Alfred Bester’s The Stars My Destination (originally published as Tiger! Tiger! in the UK) is a 1956 sci-fi novel that some have cited as a precursor to cyberpunk. It’s a work I admit I have some conflicted […]

Nothing’s modular CMF Headphone Pro drops to its lowest price yet.

Over the past several years, Nothing’s budget-centric subsidiary, CMF, has built a reputation for producing attractive, inexpensive products with features often reserved for gadgets that cost twice the price. The CMF Headphone Pro — the company’s first pair of over-ear wireless headphones — fit precisely in that lane, especially now that they’re on sale at […]

Jason Statham’s Only Video Game Film Gets Negative Feedback

which was terminated after two seasons), it’s still significantly simpler to locate dreadful video game adaptations than those deserving of acclaim. Be it Paul W.S. Anderson’s scarcely acceptable “Resident Evil” series, the campy “Street Fighter” film featuring Jean-Claude Van Damme, or the botched “Doom” starring Karl Urban and Dwayne Johnson, it’s clear why video game adaptations have been labeled as “trash” for numerous years. The highest praise these films and television series could aspire to in the nascent days of the subgenre was to be deemed a guilty pleasure — akin to the original “Mortal Kombat” movie.

Yet even among the most detestable adaptations, there was one fronted by the otherwise talented Jason Statham: “In the Name of the King,” which emerged as the nadir of the bunch. Based on Chris Taylor’s 2002 “Dungeon Siege” video game franchise, director Uwe Boll (renowned for producing some of the most lackluster and cringe-worthy straight-to-video projects) endeavored to craft an epic RPG fantasy for the cinema and stumbled in nearly every conceivable aspect.

“In the Name of the King” unfolds in medieval times within the fictitious realm of Ehb, centering on the lead character, Farmer (Statham), who vows retribution against the malevolent Krug creatures after they slay his son and abduct his wife. Predictably, there exists an evil genius behind the Krugs named Gallian (Ray Liotta), a sinister sorcerer, who aspires to dominate the entire kingdom. Farmer, alongside other humans and mystical entities, must thwart him at all costs.

In the Name of the King is an outrage in terms of video game adaptations

Actions to Take When Your Android Device Fails to Power On Because of an Exhausted Battery

Android devices may cease charging due to a variety of typical problems. Some models have even been labeled as the most unreliable Android phones available, often because of software or performance issues, battery malfunctions, or specific design flaws. This indicates that having troubleshooting skills is essential, as you can never predict when such knowledge will be useful. For instance, what do you do if you encounter a non-responsive phone that won’t power on?

Unless the phone is unresponsive due to physical damage, moisture, or other significant failures, it is likely that the issue relates to a dead battery that requires a dependable charge. A completely depleted battery necessitates a longer initial charging period, which could take anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes for the phone or device to start responding. This applies to any status indicator lights or LEDs. The device may seem entirely lifeless until the battery receives enough charge. When lithium-ion batteries are fully drained, they enter a form of “sleep mode” to reduce voltage and avert damage.

If the device charges for a period without any effect, re-examine the power adapter, the cable, and the outlet to confirm that power is being supplied. Additionally, verify that the charger is providing the correct voltage. You may attempt a reboot by pressing and holding the power button for several seconds. For Samsung devices and specific brands, you might need to press a combination of buttons, such as the power and volume down buttons. You could also connect the phone to a computer via USB or USB-C to check its response.

Avoid fully discharging your phone’s battery

Stanford AI Index: China Narrows AI Performance Gap with U.S., Despite Spending 23 Times Less

In short: Stanford’s 2026 AI Index Report finds the performance gap between the best American and Chinese AI models has collapsed to 2.7%, down from 17.5-31.6 percentage points in May 2023, despite the US spending 23 times more on private AI investment ($285.9 billion vs $12.4 billion). China leads in AI patents (69.7% of global […]

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Possible Hold-up: New Mac Studio Anticipated in October

In the most recent issue of Mark Gurman’s Bloomberg newsletter, it has been indicated that the upcoming version of Mac Studio may not launch until October. At present, the Mac Studio is offered in M3 Ultra and M4 Max setups, yet customers are encountering significant shipping delays, with some models entirely out of stock.

A revamp of the Mac Studio is certainly overdue. Nonetheless, supply chain issues are hindering Apple’s capacity to provide what is expected to be the M5-powered upgrade. Initially, Apple had targeted a release around the mid-year mark, but this schedule has since been delayed by several months.

The tech sector is currently contending with shortages in memory and storage, and Apple is not exempt from these obstacles. It seems that Apple has favored the shipment of laptops, as most variations of the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are easily obtainable. In contrast, the inventory for Apple’s desktop Macs is becoming more limited, with most Mac mini and Studio configurations back-ordered by at least a month, and multiple options entirely unavailable for purchase.

There had been thoughts that the delays were related to a forthcoming M5 Mac Studio update, but Bloomberg’s insights imply otherwise. If you were looking forward to a new Mac Studio announcement prior to WWDC in June, it may be necessary to revise those expectations.