AllYouCanTech

# Apple Rumor Replay: iPhone 18 Display Insights, Siri’s Gemini Features, and iPhone Air 2 Upgrades

This week’s installment of Rumor Replay unveils intriguing details about Apple’s forthcoming products, such as the iPhone 18 series, advancements to Siri via a collaboration with Google, and prospective upgrades for the iPhone Air 2. Here’s a detailed examination of the latest speculations.

## iPhone 18 Series: Display Sizes and Dynamic Island Aesthetic

Leaker Digital Chat Station has shared an outline of the anticipated display features for the iPhone 18 series. Significantly, the screen sizes for the iPhone 18, Air 2, 18 Pro, and 18 Pro Max are expected to be consistent with those of their earlier models.

Nevertheless, a notable modification is anticipated for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which may showcase a novel type of display cutout. Conversely, the iPhone 18 and Air 2 are likely to maintain the conventional Dynamic Island aesthetic.

### Analysis

While the details provided by Digital Chat Station indicate stability in screen dimensions, the mention of a new cutout for the Pro variants implies a more progressive design strategy. If the new cutout is akin to the top-left hole-punch design reported earlier, it could distinctly differentiate the Pro models from the standard editions.

## Siri’s Enhanced Features Driven by Gemini

Apple has verified its partnership with Google to upgrade Siri utilizing Gemini-based technology. Recent updates have clarified what this collaboration will involve:

– Apple will have the flexibility to tailor Gemini to fit its desired response style.
– Siri is anticipated to offer more extensive conversational replies, similar to those generated by ChatGPT and Gemini.
– AI-generated answers will not bear any branding from Google or Gemini.

Several new capabilities for Siri are expected to debut this spring, while others might be previewed at WWDC before their fall launch.

### Analysis

Apple’s tactic to retain authority over Siri while harnessing Gemini’s functionalities is a clever strategy. The exclusion of Google branding in Siri’s responses aligns with Apple’s commitment to user experience and brand integrity. However, the timeline for certain expected features raises concerns regarding possible delays in the implementation of upgrades.

## iPhone Air 2: Potential Battery Improvements

A report from The Elec suggests that Apple is exploring the adoption of CoE (Chip on Film) technology for the iPhone Air 2’s display. This advancement could facilitate a slimmer and brighter display, with the chance to use the extra space for a larger battery.

### Analysis

While the iPhone Air’s design is already streamlined, the emphasis on improving battery life rather than simply decreasing thickness is a positive move. A larger battery would greatly enhance user experience, addressing one of the most frequent requests from users.

## Conclusion

This week’s speculations underline Apple’s dedication to innovation and user satisfaction throughout its product range. With possible design modifications for the iPhone 18, Siri’s improved functionalities through the Gemini collaboration, and battery enhancements for the iPhone Air 2, Apple continues to generate excitement for its upcoming launches. What are your opinions on these updates?

Following regulatory examination, Meta has verified that the prohibition on third-party LLMs for WhatsApp will not be enforced for users in Italy and Brazil. Here are the specifics.

## Ban may also be lifted across the rest of the EU in the upcoming weeks

Last October, Meta declared that organizations like OpenAI and Perplexity would be barred from utilizing WhatsApp’s Business API to function as a lightweight interface for conversations.

This restriction, which takes effect today, does not pertain to LLM-based conversations in scenarios such as customer assistance. Instead, it targets specifically companies that were using WhatsApp as a substitute or alternative to their own chatbot services, like the main ChatGPT interface.

While many may perceive minimal justification for using ChatGPT via WhatsApp instead of the official application, others prefer engaging through a familiar interface, treating ChatGPT as a standard contact in their chat list.

Moreover, in multiple nations (including Brazil), mobile providers exempt WhatsApp from monthly data limitations, rendering it an especially convenient option.

After Meta’s ban announcement last October, Italy’s competition authority (AGCM) initiated an inquiry and determined in late December that the action was anticompetitive, directing Meta to reverse the ban:

> According to the Authority, Meta’s behavior appears to amount to an abuse, as it may restrict production, market entry, or technical advancements in the AI Chatbot services sector, to the detriment of consumers. Furthermore, while the inquiry is ongoing, Meta’s actions might inflict significant and irreparable damage to competition in the affected market, undermining contestability. Thus, the Authority has mandated Meta to immediately halt the WhatsApp Business Solution Terms to uphold access to the WhatsApp platform for Meta AI’s competitors.

Now, on the same day the ban took effect, Meta confirmed it would also exempt Brazil from the action, following a precautionary measure imposed by CADE, the nation’s competition regulator. CADE has also launched an administrative investigation into WhatsApp’s new terms and will determine subsequent steps after concluding its inquiry.

An investigation is also in progress in the EU, which could broaden the exemption from the ban beyond Italy, depending on the findings of the European Commission.

Regardless, WhatsApp’s Business Solution Terms presently state:

> Providers and developers of artificial intelligence or machine learning technologies, encompassing but not limited to large language models, generative artificial intelligence platforms, general-purpose artificial intelligence assistants, or similar technologies as defined by Meta at its sole discretion (“AI Providers”), are categorically forbidden from accessing or utilizing the WhatsApp Business Solution, either directly or indirectly, for the purpose of providing, delivering, offering, selling, or otherwise making available such technologies when these technologies are the primary (as opposed to incidental or ancillary) functionality being offered for use, as determined by Meta at its sole discretion; provided, however; that such technologies may be made accessible to WhatsApp users who possess registered phone numbers with an Italian or Brazilian country code.

In summary, WhatsApp users in Italy and Brazil can continue conversing with bots like ChatGPT, while the limitation remains enforced worldwide, for the time being.